Despite being a 2x MVP and reigning Defensive Player of The Year, Giannis Antetokounmpo has seen a limited amount of playoff success.
The Bucks, who have been near the top of the standings for the past couple of years, have failed to generate a successful playoff run, losing to the Raptors in the 2019 Eastern Conference Finals, and then to the Heat in the 2020 Eastern Semi-Finals.
Obviously, those shortcomings have been a major smear to Giannis’ legacy and it’s fair to say the pressure is building for him to change that.
In an appearance on SiriusXM NBA Radio, the Greek Freak commented on his playoff failures in an interesting way, citing that Michael Jordan (the G.O.A.T. in the eyes of many) suffered similar defeat before ultimately securing his titles in the 90s.
“I’m one of the most realistic people…. You got to hurt. You got to hurt to get it.
One of the greatest players, Michael Jordan, and his team, he got to the playoffs and he got hurt. He got eliminated, he was disappointed. He went through the struggles. It’s going to take time.”
2x MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo tells @TheFrankIsola and @Scalabrine what it will take to get Milawukee to the next level 🏆@Giannis_An34 | @Bucks | #FearTheDeer pic.twitter.com/DlFQPaQMk2
— SiriusXM NBA Radio (@SiriusXMNBA) December 18, 2020
No matter your feelings on Giannis, he’s absolutely right when it comes to disappointment. Every player from Jordan, to Kobe, to Magic, and LeBron has faced some sort of postseason failure.
MJ, as great as he was, didn’t reach the Finals until his seventh season.
If you’re keeping track, that’s just a year behind where Giannis is right now. At 27, he has still got plenty of time to win big and find success in the NBA. 2021 could be the year he does.
