While the Milwaukee Bucks (42-24) are tied with the Cleveland Cavaliers (42-24) for second place in the Eastern Conference standings, team leader Giannis Antetokounmpo believes the season has been “draining.” At least for him personally.
As one of the most accomplished players in the NBA, this may be surprising. Antetokounmpo has already won an NBA championship. He’s also a two-time MVP, one-time Defensive Player of the Year award, and 8-time All-Star. The last player to achieve at least much, so far as these accolades, is NBA icon Michael Jordan.
Giannis Antetokounmpo Opens Up About ‘Hardest Season’
In an interview with The Athletic’s Sam Amick, Antetokounmpo opens up about what’s been a particularly trying season.
“… It’s hard,” he admits. “I feel like for me, this has been the hardest season that I’ve played… Physically, because I had the procedure done on my left knee in the end of June. And I had to get back to myself. I feel like when the season started, I wasn’t (myself). And the reason was that I hadn’t played basketball until like the second week of training (camp). I had to get back to being by myself.”
Yet, “emotionally, and mentally, it’s been draining.”
Discussing a coaching carousel that seems to be in perpetual motion, Antetokounmpo doubles down on the previous statement, saying “I’m not going to lie to you. It’s been extremely tough…”
“… From Coach Bud (Mike Budenholzer) being let go (after the Bucks fell to Miami in the first round of the playoffs) to Coach Griff (Adrian Griffin) coming in, being let go, then (interim) Coach Joe (Prunty) for three games, Coach Doc (Rivers) coming in, and then you have Dame. It’s been tough. But at the end of the day, I think when you face adversity in life, that’s when you excel the most.”
“So I’m just trying to, as a leader, as a basketball player, as a person… [to] do what I do, keep on enjoying the game of basketball,” he continues. “…Keep on hanging in there… trying to improve my game, doing the right thing.”
“…Hopefully, step by step, I get where I want to go and I’m able to help the team get where they want to go.”
Though sounding far different from the jovial giant that the league and its fans have come to love, the 29-year-old’s optimistic attitude still creeps through. Nonetheless, even armed with just those comments, it’s apparent that Antetokounmpo is battling against a strain that he’s never felt in his career. At least up until now.
Moving Pieces
The Bucks have had several major changes since last season.
In May, the team let go of a successful coach in Mike Budenholzer after a disappointing finish in the 2023 NBA Playoffs. It was a bit surprising, given that Budenholzer had coached the Bucks to their first championship in franchise history. Frankly, it seemed like a knee-jerk reaction spurned by their unexpected loss to the Miami Heat. However, due to the “what have you done for me lately?” nature of the NBA, it was par for the course.
Upon firing Budenholzer and leading an extensive coaching search, the Bucks opted to hire a first-year head coach in Adrian Griffin. Griffin, an assistant coach for various NBA teams over the last 15 years was a popular hire. Even Antetokounmpo liked the move.
Then, Milwaukee completed a blockbuster trade for a perennial All-Star candidate in Damian Lillard just before the 2023-24. In the process, they surrendered a player that may have been their most prized defender in Jrue Holiday. Holiday, a five-time All-Defensive selection, had been part of the Bucks team that won a championship in 2021. It was his first season with the franchise, which had completed a four-team trade for Holiday that sent former starter Eric Bledsoe to the New Orleans Pelicans.
It’s this chain of events that would lead to what Antetokounmpo has called the “hardest” season of his career.
Removing the Stress
The Bucks are now 10-10 under Doc Rivers, who replaced Griffin as head coach due to veteran players losing faith in his approach. Lillard, who had been angling for a trade to the Miami Heat last summer, has been disgruntled both on and off the court since landing in Milwaukee. Then there’s Khris Middleton who, in a battle against both Father Time and Lady Luck, has developed a proclivity for ending up on the injury report.
Even on the surface, it’s easy to see how this could be the most difficult season that Antekounmpo has played thus far. Unfortunately for the Bucks, there doesn’t appear a simple solution. At least not until the offseason.
