Antetokounmpo: “Spanoulis made me love challenges again – My goal is to pass the f… first round”

After two disappointing years, Mr Giannis Antetokounmpo is getting ready to enter the new season with them Milwaukee Bucksaiming to get back into NBA title contention.

In the summer, the “Greek Freak” led the way National from the Pre-Olympic tournament to the knockouts of the Olympic Games, of course having a central role in his team Vasilis Spanoulis. As the Greek star himself confessed to ‘Athletic’, this experience changed the way he sees basketball as it pushed him to his limits and made him love challenges again.

At the same time, the Greek star expressed his desire to finally pass him first round of the playoffsafter the two consecutive eliminations there from Miami Heat and Indiana Pacersbut also his ambition to dominate even more.

What he said in detail:

Regarding the collaboration with Spanoulis at the National Team: “Spanoulis changed the way I think about things. My approach to the game. My love for the game. Sometimes, I think, you’re in your comfort zone. Many people are in a comfort zone, without even wanting to be there. You have to push yourself. You have to demand from yourself, from the people around you. And he did that.

All this talk has made me realize that I crave the challenge again. Of course, it pisses you off, but it makes you think, “Wait, I’ll show you.” You don’t want to disappoint Spanoulis. Like the Bucks, I don’t want to let Doc Rivers down. I don’t want to let Lillard down. I don’t want to let my team down.”

For this season with the Bucks: “This year’s challenge for me is to be healthy. The challenge for me is to play in the playoffs, to get past the damn first round. To become even more imposing. Every year is important to me because one day I’m going to be 35 or 36 or 38 and I’m going to say, “Whoa, my best years have passed and I couldn’t do anything.” So, I have to dominate.”