Antetokounmpo: “We built a family with the Bucks, this is more than basketball”

In the climate that prevails in Milwaukee Bucks from the moment a player comes to the team, stood o John Antetokounmpo in his statements, after the home defeat by them Pacers (123-139).

The Greek superstar referred to the defeat of the “Stags”, but with the talk going inside the team and the relationships between the players, he stated that this is the culture they have built in the Milwaukee. In fact, he commented on specific names that have left and are now his rivals, but will forever remain members of the Bucks team.

Giannis Antetokounmpo stated in detail:

On the Bucks being more like a family/brotherhood than a team: “This is certainly true. Whoever comes to the team we accept. Leonard came a few days ago and we were with him, we adored him today when he phased. We embraced him and made him feel that he is time in the team. George Hill hit me a few times in my privates with his knee by mistake, but he’s a kid we’ve gone to war with for years with the team. Someone who joined the team is always a member of the team.

Players are traded, but remain in the same circle as us. We built this relationship, no matter what, we did this. We will be brothers. Same with DiVincenzo a few days ago. The Warriors beat us, but with this man we won a championship together, he helped us be great. After the match we hugged him. I’m happy to see guys who have played for us succeed. I’m happy for Noora, for Hill. It’s more than basketball. It’s a brotherhood. Whether we win or lose we stay together. Without Thanasis today the energy was different. But we do everything together. Anyone who comes or leaves the team knows that we are a brotherhood and we always stick together“.

On what the Pacers are doing and making it difficult for the Bucks: “They play fast, move the ball fast, make shots. They made 11 more 3-pointers than us. They always follow their logic. I don’t think we have an issue, it’s just one of those days where after a game against the Kings – a team that plays fast with a fast point guard – we came home and after sleeping in our bed we weren’t as focused. We conceded 50 points in the 3rd quarter. They made a lot of three-pointers to beat us and it’s good to know that to beat us a team has to make that many three-pointers. We want to reduce them. At the end of the day I don’t think we were competitive, especially in the 3rd period. We were not ourselves. We have to learn from this and look to the next game against the Raptors. We wouldn’t finish the season 82-0“.

On what they did wrong against the Pacers to give them so many threes: “The fact that they play so fast helps. They can break down defenses. Lopez’s absence was certainly significant. Now we were playing with instinct, covering the racquet and they made passes, took shots and put them in. If someone didn’t enter it would be a different match. It’s basketball though. We will learn from this and move forward“.

For the fact that he committed 3 consecutive fouls if it affected him: “Yes, because there were times when I couldn’t be as aggressive as I wanted. We were playing against a team that had players setting up for an offensive foul, falling on my chest and trying to get fouled. But you have to learn to play with it. There are days I will be charged with a foul and others that will not happen. But I have to stay aggressive. I just have to look at the next match“.

On the upcoming game against the Raptors and what the Bucks are working on: “Right now I just want to go home and rest. Tomorrow is another day, I can’t predict the future. I’ll wake up and see. I know it is a day when we are not allowed to go to the field, but to stay with our family. I will try to find my rhythm as much as I can. We play in 3 days, so we have to focus on ourselves, get Lopez back and whenever we play be competitive. I just want to slow down a bit now. Watch TV, spend time with my kids, lift weights, eat good food and then get ready for the next game“.

Edited by: Christos Lois