“Guys are being selfish”: Giannis Antetokounmpo just dropped a bombshell verdict on Milwaukee Bucks after devastating loss to OKC Thunder | NBA News
Milwaukee’s season took another hard hit on Wednesday night, and the aftermath was heavier than the 122-102 score board suggested. The Bucks were outplayed at home by the Oklahoma City Thunder, a team that arrived shorthanded yet left with full control of the game. The loss pushed Milwaukee into uncertainty, both in the standings and within the locker room. Giannis Antetokounmpo’s frustration was seen on his face, and he answered the tension directly. After the final buzzer, the franchise cornerstone spoke with blunt clarity. It was a shocker, but his words exposed the lack of chemistry between the players on the team.
Giannis Antetokounmpo calls out Bucks chemistry issues
The Bucks have now lost four of their last five games and sit at 18-25, good for 11th in the Eastern Conference. Several of those defeats have turned lopsided early, including the latest against Oklahoma City. When asked what keeps going wrong, Antetokounmpo laid it out without hesitation.“We’re not playing hard, we’re not doing the right thing, we’re not playing to win, we’re not playing together,” the two-time MVP said. “Our chemistry is not there, guys are being selfish, rather try to look for their own shots than look for the right shot for the team. Guys are trying to do it on their own.”He also addressed a recurring pattern during losses. “At times, I feel like when we’re down 10, down 15, down 20, we try to make it up in one play, and it’s not going to work.”Despite leading the team in scoring against the Thunder, Antetokounmpo’s 19-point night fell short of his usual impact. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, meanwhile, dominated with 40 points as Oklahoma City tightened its grip on the league’s best record.
Bucks face urgency as Giannis Antetokounmpo demands accountability
Milwaukee’s problems extend beyond effort. Kevin Porter Jr., second on the team in scoring and first in assists, is sidelined with an oblique strain and has no clear return date. “He’s not going to play anytime soon, I can tell you that, but we don’t know how long he’ll be out,” coach Doc Rivers said.Antetokounmpo also reflected on his own approach within the offense. “I’m not the guy that will yell and cuss his teammate out and demand the ball,” he said. “I’ve never done that in my career.” Still, he acknowledged confusion about why the offense has drifted away from him at key moments. “But I really don’t get it. I really don’t.”He even shared advice he recently received. “They told me there’s this thing that’s called the white swan and black swan, that you’ve got to be the black swan and be more aggressive and demand the ball,” Antetokounmpo said. “It’s something I haven’t done, that I’ve never done my whole career. Maybe I’ve got to do it more.”While Antetokounmpo appears to be focused and serious about winning, the team as a whole must work together to maintain the chemistry.
