Giannis Antetokounmpo
The Milwaukee Bucks needed a jolt, and Cam Thomas delivered it in dramatic fashion and Giannis Antetokounmpo loved it.
Milwaukee secured a 116-108 win over the Orlando Magic at Kia Center, but the final score only tells part of the story. With Antetokounmpo sidelined, Thomas erupted for 34 points in just his second game with the team. He capped the night with a cold dagger from beyond the arc in the final seconds, sending the bench into a frenzy.
As the ball dropped through the net, teammates leaped from their seats. Thomas walked toward the sideline to a chorus of applause. Then cameras caught Giannis. The two-time MVP stared at Thomas with a look that blended disbelief and admiration. The two met near the bench, shook hands, and Giannis flashed a wide grin that quickly made the rounds online, per Pro Football Network. Within minutes, fans clipped the moment and shared it across social media, turning the exchange into one of the night’s most talked-about highlights.
Thomas Delivers the Spark Milwaukee Needed
The Bucks signed Thomas last week hoping he could inject scoring punch and relieve pressure on their offense. On Wednesday, he showed exactly why they made the move.
Milwaukee struggled through long droughts, including a stretch of more than five minutes without a field goal. Thomas refused to let the game slip. After starting 1-for-5 in the opening quarter, he regrouped and attacked. He scored eight points in the fourth, added four rebounds and two assists, and finished plus-6 in 25 minutes off the bench.
After the game, the locker room buzzed. In a team video, head coach Doc Rivers praised Jericho Sims before turning to Thomas and asking, “Cam, you get what?” Thomas answered with confidence, “I get buckets.” The room erupted, per SI.
Teammate Kevin Porter Jr. echoed that sentiment. “He’s literally a microwave,” Porter said. “First thing he said when he introduced himself, he said, ‘I’m a bucket.’ We want him to be just that.”
Thomas built his reputation in Brooklyn as a pure scorer who never hesitates in big moments. He brought that same mentality to Milwaukee. The dagger three did more than seal the win. It shifted the mood around a team searching for consistency.
Giannis’ Moment Says It All
Giannis’ reaction resonated because it revealed something deeper than celebration. It showed belief.
Milwaukee improved to 22-30, still sitting 12th in the Eastern Conference and outside the playoff picture. The road ahead remains steep. Yet the energy Wednesday night felt different. The Bucks closed a tight game against a team above .500. They did it with poise. They did it with shot-making.
Most importantly, they did it with a player who embraced the spotlight.
For a franchise that has battled offensive stagnation all season, Thomas’ 34-point outburst offered a glimpse of what could be. Giannis’ viral smile captured that hope in one frame.
If Thomas continues to deliver in crunch time, that look may become a familiar sight in Milwaukee, and that’s exactly what they need in that city.