Stephen A. Smith Doesn't Hesitate on Brutal Take About Giannis Antetokounmpo

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Dibyendu Mondal | Last updated Jun 13, 2025 1:21 PM ET

Giannis Antetokounmpo has made his hunger for another title perfectly clear. While many sources interpreted this as a desire to be traded, he has since clarified that he wants to win it with the Milwaukee Bucks.

He was in title-winning form until the very end. But, Damian Lillard's injury and other problems in the offense ended his playoff run early against the Indiana Pacers. Antetokounmpo averaged 30.4 points with 11.9 rebounds and 6.5 assists last season.

However, Stephen A. Smith expressed during ESPN's "First Take" that he will consider Antetokounmpo an "underachiever" if he doesn't win another title.

"He's one of the greatest players to ever play the game," He explained his take. "Over the last four years, minimum 200 games, Giannis second in the league, 30.4 points per game. Fifth in the league, 11.7 rebounds per game."

"Fifth among qualifiers at 58% from the field. And nine All-NBA selections in his career. Nine All-Star selections. And top ten finishes in league MVP voting nine times. And he does, and he has more of that than post-season series wins. That's unacceptable." He said.

Smith then clarifies that he isn't blaming Antetokounmpo for it. He just believes that Antetokounmpo deserves more for a man of his calibre.

Stephen A. Smith says he will consider Giannis Antetokounmpo an “underachiever” if he doesn’t win another ring

( @FirstTake / h/t @ClutchPoints )

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— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) June 13, 2025

"It's not his fault. I'm not in any way pointing to him or what he's not doing." He clarified. I'm saying that you don't look at somebody that dominant, that fantastic, with that kind of fire in his belly to compete on a night-in, night-out basis, and all you have is one championship to show for it."

Smith expects to see another ring on his finger and so do his fans. It was a major heartbreak for the Bucks fandom to see Antetokounmpo perform his absolute best and still lose to the Pacers. But the man himself is ready to start next season.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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