It’s been an interesting season for the Bucks and Giannis Antetokounmpo has detailed why it’s been the most difficult one of his career.
Despite all the dramas in Milwaukee, the Bucks are still 42-24 on the season and third in the Eastern Conference.
Though Giannis has struggled this season more than most within himself, he explained.
“It’s hard,” The two-time MVP told The Athletic. “I feel like for me, this has been the hardest season that I’ve played — not only physically, because I had the procedure done on my left knee in the end of June. And I had to get back to myself. I feel like when the season started, I wasn’t (myself). And the reason was that I hadn’t played basketball until, like, the second week of training (camp). I had to get back to being by myself.”
The Bucks superstar also admitted all the instability has taken a toll on his psyche.
“But emotionally and mentally, it’s been draining,” Giannis added. “I’m not going to lie to you. It’s been extremely tough, from Coach Bud (Mike Budenholzer) being let go to Coach Griff (Adrian Griffin) coming in, being let go, then (interim) Coach Joe (Prunty) for three games, Coach Doc (Rivers) coming in, and then you have Dame. It’s been tough.”
But Giannis has been attempting to rise above it all and be the role model and leader his teammates expect him to be.
“But at the end of the day, I think when you face adversity in life, that’s when you excel the most,” he said. “So I’m just trying to, as a leader, as a basketball player, as a person, just trying to do what I do, keep on enjoying the game of basketball, keep on hanging in there, keep on trying to improve my game, doing the right thing. And hopefully, step by step, I get where I want to go and I’m able to help the team get where we want to go.”
Milwaukee are running hard at a championship and have improved their locker room spirit with the recent addition of Patrick Beverley.
Will they have what it takes to go all the way?
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