NBA Superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo Despairs Over Milwaukee Bucks’ Crisis: ‘Are We Even Trying to Make the Playoffs?’

The Milwaukee Bucks’ crisis continues unabated. The team faces the risk of missing the playoffs for the first time in ten years. Superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo is desperately searching for solutions.

«It’s tough. For me personally – I don’t know how the team feels – but for me personally, it’s a difficult season,» the Bucks forward stated after their 105-112 loss to the Miami Heat. «I think it’s been a while since we as a team have struggled like this – trying to get into the Play-In. Can we make the Play-In? Are we even trying to make the playoffs? How are we even supposed to get into the Play-In? All these thoughts are creeping into our locker room, and I haven’t had that in a long time.»

The defeat against the Heat marked the Bucks’ third consecutive loss and their 38th of the current season, against only 27 victories. This places the 2021 NBA champions currently in eleventh place in the Eastern Conference, a position that would not even qualify them for the Play-In tournament.

Giannis Antetokounmpo: «It’s in My Nature to Win Games»

The franchise simply can’t find its rhythm. One reason for this is Antetokounmpo himself has missed significant parts of the season due to a calf injury. «I’ve never missed 25 or 30 games in the middle of a season before. So I’m just trying to take it game by game. I’m grateful and happy to be out here competing again and trying to play the right way. That feels good to me. But at the same time, it’s in my nature to win games.»

The 31-year-old emphasized his commitment to «keep finding solutions, keep doing video analysis, keep practicing, keep trusting each other, and just find ways to win a game.» He added, «I don’t care how it happens – whether it’s ugly, beautiful, or spectacular, whether we hit 20 threes or score 80 points in the paint. You just have to keep finding ways to win games.»

Giannis Antetokounmpo Declined Trade from the Bucks

In the 35 games where «The Greek Freak» has been on the court, he has been typically dominant despite his injury issues. The two-time MVP averages a strong 27.5 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 5.4 assists with an efficient shooting percentage of 62.8 percent.

Antetokounmpo was frequently the subject of trade rumors earlier in the season when the Bucks’ difficult situation became apparent, but he consciously decided to remain in Milwaukee: «There will never be a situation and never a moment where I go out and say, ‘I want a trade.’ That’s simply not in my nature.»

Nevertheless, challenging weeks lie ahead for the Bucks if they still hope to qualify for the Play-In tournament. The gap to tenth place, currently held by the Charlotte Hornets, is already six games this late in the season. Antetokounmpo, however, still believes his team can turn things around: «Now that the team is available again, I feel like we have a better chance to achieve just that.»

NBA Eastern Conference Standings