Giannis Antetokounmpo put himself front and center after the Milwaukee Bucks’ 114–113 loss to the Washington Wizards on Wednesday, showing the accountability expected from a team’s superstar.
Just days after forcefully shutting down trade chatter, Antetokounmpo owned the result following a stunning home defeat to a Wizards team that entered the night 8–24 and near the bottom of the conference.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, on tonight's loss to the Wizards: pic.twitter.com/WfdLyju0nO
— Eric Nehm (@eric_nehm) January 1, 2026
With Milwaukee holding a 113–112 lead and 12 seconds left, Giannis missed a point-blank look in the paint. Washington immediately pushed the ball the other way, and CJ McCollum rose up to bury a clutch jumper, flipping the score and sealing a one-point upset with just one second remaining.
Giannis Antetokounmpo takes responsibility on the Bucks loss
Dec 31, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) drives for to the basket against Washington Wizards forward Khris Middleton (22) during the first quarter at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
Antetokounmpo hasn’t shied away from the moment, fully aware that a finish at the rim probably seals the game for Milwaukee. Rather than looking for excuses, he addressed it directly once the game ended. The Bucks’ franchise cornerstone owned the outcome, putting the loss on his shoulders and again setting the tone as the leader of the group.
“We just have to stop going back and forth with teams like that. The more you let them believe, the more they stay in the game. So this one is on us. We need to play downhill and understand that we cannot do this alone. It has to be a team effort, whether we win or lose. We have to do it together,” said the Milwaukee Bucks star.
Dec 29, 2025; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) in a time out during the first half agains the Charlotte Hornets at the Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-Imagn Images
The message may sound familiar, but it hits close to home for a Bucks team approaching a critical crossroads. Milwaukee feels like a franchise on the edge, with outcomes that could swing sharply in either direction. Antetokounmpo’s long term outlook remains uncertain as trade chatter continues to link him with major market teams, even as he publicly downplays the noise.
At 14-20, Milwaukee sits 11th in the Eastern Conference and dangerously close to falling out of the postseason picture. Missing the playoffs would deal a serious blow to the franchise, especially as it tries to convince Giannis Antetokounmpo that the path forward still leads to winning with the Bucks