5x All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo captured his first NBA Championship this past summer when he led the Bucks to a 6-game series victory over the Phoenix Suns.
This season, the Bucks aren’t exactly looking like that same team.
With injuries to key players, the team has had a hard time adjusting, and stand just 13-8 on the season.
Instead of panicking, the Greek Freak says he’s learned that it’s not necessarily how hard you play, but about playing the right way and developing good habits for the rest of the team.
“My first couple years, once we started losing, I’m like, ‘Fu-‘ — sorry for my cursing, don’t put that in — so, I was like, um, ‘Eff this BS, we’re not losing,’” Antetokounmpo told The Athletic. “And I just put so much load on my body to win game No. 13. Who will remember that? You will not remember that.”
“Now, I’ve realized that you’ve just gotta build good habits,” Antetokounmpo told The Athletic. “Just build good habits with your team and when you go down the road, down the stretch, that’s when that mentality enters. ‘We’re not losing. I’ll do whatever it takes.’ But at the end of the day, you realize, I can kill myself right now. Jrue was out. Khris was out. Brook was out. Donte’s out. And I kill myself right now, but I had a conversation with coach (Budenholzer). ‘Just play the right way. Win, lose, just play the right way.’”
Giannis, 26, has emerged as one of the best players in the NBA. Through 20 games so far this season, he’s averaging 27 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game on 52% shooting.
It remains to be seen how far he can lead the Bucks this time, but it’s clear he has already learned a thing or two from his success a year ago and he will continue to be a monstrous force in the East for years to come.
