Cleveland Cavaliers guard Max Strus’ pregame comments to the team before their season-ending loss to Indiana, who knocked the Milwaukee Bucks out of the playoffs in the previous round, is going viral. After Strus told his teammates, “If you don’t believe, don’t show up for work,” Strus missed all 9 of his shots as the Cavs lost 114-105. On his podcast, former Milwaukee Bucks guard and 2021 NBA champion Jeff Teague reacted to the idea of Giannis Antetokounmpo making a similar move during their championship run.
Milwaukee Bucks, Jeff Teague
Jul 14, 2021; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Jeff Teague (5) during game four of the 2021 NBA Finals against the Phoenix Sunsat Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Former Milwaukee Bucks Guard Jeff Teague Says Viral Max Strus Text Would Have Made Him Go Home
In the aftermath of Cleveland Cavaliers guard Max Strus sending the text “If you don’t believe, don’t show up for work” to his teammates before an elimination game, the Cavs guard unfortunately went 0-9 from the field and has gone viral on social media for his poor performance in the aftermath of his motivational words. Many, including former Milwaukee Bucks guard Jeff Teague, have reacted to the news. on his podcast Club 520.
“If they woulda text me that when I played for Milwaukee when we first played Brooklyn, like ‘if y’all don’t believe,’ after them first two games, I think I woulda went home.”
Milwaukee Bucks, Khris Middleton
May 5, 2021; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Jeff Teague (5) reacts after scoring a three-point basket with an assist from forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) in the second quarter against the Washington Wizards at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
In 2021, Teague was part of the Milwaukee Bucks team that, although eventually became NBA Champions, went down 0-2 to the Brooklyn Nets in the second round of the Eastern Conference Playoffs during their run. Many felt the Bucks were longshots to win the series against the Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving-led Nets. Teague said that he would not have received the motivation well if any of his Bucks teammates were to have said something comparable to Strus.
Teague, now known as a jokester by NBA fans due to his post-career media activities, clearly is not the type of player to react well to a “corny” tactic intended to motivate teammates.
Milwaukee Bucks, Jeff Teague
Jul 11, 2021; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Jeff Teague (5) against the Phoenix Suns during game three of the 2021 NBA Finals at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Jeff Teague Reacts to Idea of Giannis Antetokounmpo Sending Viral Pregame Text
Teague said that he was thinking about what he would have done if Giannis Antetokounmpo were to have sent such a text message to the team group chat. Laughing all the while, Teague said the text would have had no effect on him.
“I was thinkin and I was like if Giannis woulda text that to the group like ‘if y’all don’t believe we can win this s**t,’ I prolly woulda been like mannnnn, get the f**k off my phone.”
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
Feb 29, 2024; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) smiles after the win over the Charlotte Hornets during the second half at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
Teague’s co-hosts, DJ Wells and Brandon Hendricks, agreed that such a text would have been received differently from a star player and team leader like Antetokounmpo as opposed to Strus. The shooting guard started just 37 games on the year and is considered more of a role player on the team. Although Strus started in all 9 playoff games for Cleveland, this was partly due to injuries.
Teague joked the equivalent of Strus sending the text to the Cavs before the game would be him doing so for the Bucks championship team. Hendricks also posited PJ Tucker as someone who could have made such a move. They then joked that if Tucker had gone 0-9 like Strus had, that they would “kick his ass.”
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Nov 30, 2019; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets forward PJ Tucker (17) during the national anthem prior to the game against the Atlanta Hawks at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports
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