The Milwaukee Bucks are battling through a tough stretch in this NBA season, and Giannis Antetokounmpo isn’t mincing words about what it will take for the team to get back on track.
After a promising victory over the Utah Jazz offered a glimmer of optimism, a lopsided 116-94 loss to the New York Knicks quickly dampened that hope. In the wake of the setback, Antetokounmpo laid down a challenge to his teammates: step up or face the consequences.
Coming off their win over the Jazz, the Bucks moved to 2-6, sparking hope that they might be turning the corner. But that confidence was short-lived following the drubbing in New York. Antetokounmpo, the heart and soul of the team, made his expectations clear in post-game comments, urging his teammates to bring relentless effort, especially with the Boston Celtics looming on their schedule.
“Did we compete the previous game? Yes,” Antetokounmpo said, as reported by Chris Herring of ESPN. “Did we compete the two [games before that]? Yes. Did we compete today? No. … If you don’t compete your a— off, you’re not going to win the game. [You have to] at least give yourself a chance.”
His words carried urgency. “We came to New York after playing great last night,” he added. “We come here, we lose by 30. Are you OK with not competing? I know I’m not OK with that s—. We’ve got Boston in two days. We don’t compete, we’re gonna lose by 30.”
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Antetokounmpo stressed that wins won’t come easy. “Teams are not just gonna give us games. They’re not gonna feel bad for us. We’ve gotta compete every single possession. Every loose ball, we’ve gotta get a body on the floor & put it on the line. We didn’t compete at all,” he said, underscoring the importance of grit and determination.
Despite the shaky start, Antetokounmpo still backs head coach Doc Rivers, who is navigating his first season with the Bucks and working to solidify their rotation. “Doc is doing his best. He’s trying to figure out the rotation. … I give him props on that. At the end of the day, the guys that play, we got to go out there and compete. He cannot compete from the sidelines for us.”
Damian Lillard, who shares leadership duties with Antetokounmpo, echoed the sentiment after an off night against the Knicks. “I think everybody’s frustrated,” Lillard admitted. “When you’re in the type of situation we’re in — losing games and trying to find yourself, find your identity — I think everybody’s frustrated.”
Lillard reinforced that frustration is natural but must be channeled productively. “You don’t want guys in here happy,” he continued. “We got to understand what we’re doing and what it looks like when we’re having success, and that starts with playing hard and competing.”
The Bucks have the talent, but their path forward hinges on whether they can match that skill with the consistent intensity their leader demands. The test against Boston could be the defining moment to either rally or falter further.
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