Giannis Antetokounmpo Bemoans Bucks’ ‘Selfish’ Play

While being defeated by the defending champion Thunder is hardly a cause for concern on its own, Oklahoma City was missing several key players, and the Bucks’ average margin of defeat in their past three losses has been nearly 24 points. On top of that, star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo expressed concern after the game about chemistry issues, per Steve Megargee of The Associated Press.

“We’re not playing hard,” Antetokounmpo said. “We aren’t doing the right thing. We’re not playing to win. We’re not playing together. Our chemistry’s not there. Guys are being selfish, trying to look for their own shots instead of looking for the right shot for the team. Guys trying to do it on their own. At times, I feel like when we’re down 10, down 15, down 20, we try to make it up in one play, and it’s not going to work.”

With second-leading scorer Kevin Porter Jr. sidelined due to an oblique strain that could keep him on the shelf for a while, the expectation was that Antetokounmpo would carry a greater offensive load beginning on Wednesday. The two-time MVP did score a team-high 19 points, but he took just 11 of the Bucks’ 81 total field goal attempts, well below his season and career averages.

“I’m not the guy that will yell and cuss his teammate out and demand the ball,” Antetokounmpo said after the loss. “I’ve never done that in my career. But I feel like I’ve played with teammates that kind of understand the gravity that I can cause for our team, in how I can create for teammates and for myself, and how I can help the team be more successful.

“But maybe for some reason, I don’t understand — maybe because we’re young, maybe because we’re not playing well, maybe because guys think it’s their turn, they want to carry the team on their back and try to turn this around – but I really don’t get it. I really don’t.”

The Bucks are now a game-and-a-half out of the No. 10 spot in the Eastern Conference and are in danger of missing the postseason for the first time since the 2015/16 season. Given Antetokounmpo’s past comments about wanting to compete for a title, trade speculation figures to continue swirling around the 31-year-old with the February 5 deadline right around the corner.

Several teams have reportedly been hanging onto their top trade assets in the hopes that Antetokounmpo will end up on the trade block, but the Bucks star has said on the record that he never intends to request a trade out of Milwaukee and there has been no indication the front office would proactively look to move him.

Reports throughout the season have indicated that the Bucks are looking to buy, not sell, to upgrade the roster around Giannis. With Milwaukee struggling to keep pace in the playoff race, it will be interesting whether the front office doubles down on that approach or reconsiders it during the next two weeks.