Throughout his 12-year career, point guard Jeff Teague’s shortest stint with any team came in the form of his half-a-season spell with the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2020-21 season. It was perhaps his most rewarding stint, however, given that he won a championship with the Bucks that season.
Teague Speaks on Ring Culture in League
Teague was the first to admit that while he played a role in Milwaukee’s 2020-21 championship, the truth is that he got a bit of a free ride. In fact, the 6-foot-3 point guard clowned himself right after winning a chip by joking about how he got an A in a group project alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo and Co.:
In a recent interview, Teague expounded on his previous statement. When asked if he believed winning a championship ring was the be-all and end-all in evaluating a player’s legacy, the Indiana native got brutally honest with his response:
“To me, it’s not,” Tegaue said, via Zion Olojede of Complex. “I have seen people work hard, who are great talents and great players who don’t get a chance to win a ring. Not to discredit myself but I won a ring and like I said I got an A on the group project. That was Giannis. That was Jrue [Holiday]. That Khris [Middleton]. They was hoopin’ and I was able to get a ring. I don’t put too much stock in it. It’s for the news. It’s for the media.”
At the end of the day, the fact of the matter is that, unlike the greater majority of players who have come before him, Teague is an NBA champion. No one can take that away from him. Nevertheless, even Teague himself will be the first to say that this achievement by no means makes him an all-time great. That’s just not how it works.
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