Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo has turned into one of the most terrific two-way forces in the NBA, but it, unfortunately, hasn’t exactly equated to team success. Though they did capture the top seed last season, Milwaukee stumbled in the Conference Finals against the Toronto Raptors, opening the door for more questions about just how high this team’s ceiling is.
Now with his potential free agency on the horizon, Antetokounmpo is seemingly also aware of Milwaukee’s postseason shortcomings. As part of a Harvard University case study on the Bucks’ turnaround, Antetokounmpo told business professor Anita Elberse that his free agency decision wouldn’t be an easy one if they underperformed again in 2019. Following from Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
“I want the Bucks to build a winning culture,” Elberse and her co-author, master’s student Melcolm Ruffin, quoted Antetokounmpo as saying. “So far, we have been doing great, and, if this lasts, there’s no other place I want to be. But if we’re underperforming in the NBA next year, deciding whether to sign becomes a lot more difficult.”
Obviously, these are some eyebrow-raising quotes from the usually softspoken Giannis Antetokounmpo. Despite his historic production over the past few years, Milwaukee still seems a piece or two away from becoming legitimate title favorites.
The offseason didn’t do much this summer either, but they did retain both Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez. While keeping those key starters in place was key, it remains to be seen whether last year’s same core can make a breakthrough in the postseason.
