Giannis Antetokounmpo publicly criticized his Milwaukee Bucks teammates as selfish after a 122-102 loss to the Thunder, calling out poor chemistry and lack of ball movement. His comments have fueled trade rumors as Milwaukee struggles to support their superstar and chase another championship.
Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo did not hold back after his team’s 122-102 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, openly criticizing his teammates and raising questions about his future in Milwaukee.
The two-time MVP also addressed the lack of chemistry and selfish play that has hampered the team all season. With the Bucks still chasing consistency and a playoff push, Giannis made it clear that individual heroics cannot replace teamwork.
"We're not playing hard, We're not playing to win, we're not playing together. Our chemistry is not there, guys are being selfish," Giannis said in a post-game interview. "Guys are trying to look for their own shots, they're not looking for the right shot of the team. Guys try to do it on their own."
He added, "At times I feel like when we were going down 10, down 15, down 20, we try to make it up in one play. That's not gonna work. We just gotta keep punching, chipping away, possession by possession, especially when you're playing a team like OKC or the team like Minnesota or the team like San Antonio."
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Giannis reflected on his past experiences against tough opponents, explaining how proper ball movement and spacing were key to winning—and why the Bucks are struggling now.
"I've beaten those teams, you know, three, four, five years ago," he said. "We played a team that came down and shot the first shot we took the rebound, we went the other way, and we were like, we're not gonna win. Like, you gotta move us around, you gotta move me around, you gotta move Khris around, you gotta move Jrue around, you gotta move Brook around, you gotta move Pat around."
"Like, you gotta move us around in order for you to find the opportunity to get a good open look. Like, if you come down and you pass the ball, you've got Jrue Holiday on you, and you shoot it, good luck. Like, I've been in that position. But right now, I think we just don't get it. We just don't get it."
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Giannis stressed the urgency for the Bucks to learn from their struggles, emphasizing that hard work and experience are essential—but time is running out this season.
"We gotta go through this, what we're going through. We gotta come watch film, work hard, and hopefully by the experience that you create through the adversity that you face and the, you know, winning and losses, eventually you're gonna get it," he said. "We don't have time for that. We don't. We don't have time. We've got 39 games left. We don't have time. We really don't."
The star forward’s comments have intensified trade rumors, with some teams reportedly holding off on deals to see how Giannis’ situation develops.
After winning his first championship in 2021, Giannis is seeking a greater opportunity to compete for more titles. Meanwhile, the Bucks face mounting pressure to convince their superstar to stay amid ongoing struggles and postseason disappointments.
Milwaukee has now failed to win a single playoff series in the last three postseasons, making Giannis’ candid remarks and the surrounding trade speculation a major storyline as the team attempts to salvage its season.
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