Giannis Antetokounmpo returned for the Milwaukee Bucks after an eight-game absence with a calf injury and immediately reminded the NBA of his value in the league.
In a nine-point win over the Chicago Bulls, Antetokounmpo dropped 29 points and eight rebounds in just 25 minutes, leading the game in scoring in his first game back in nearly four weeks.
However, trade rumors continue to follow the two-time MVP, and at the same time he called out a reporter for a ‘disrespectful‘ question about his future, he also called into question the future of his own teammates, if they can’t find a groove before the trade deadline.
“I‘ve been 13 years in the league. If we keep on losing, probably half of the team not going to be here,” Antetokounmpo said after the game.”We’re not going to make the playoffs. I really don’t care. At the end of the day, I just want to be available, be healthy and help my team win.“
Along with getting the win, Antetokounmpo made headlines during the game for a windmill dunk in the final seconds, once the contest was already decided. The Greek Freak justified the move that drew the ire of Chicago by saying that he wanted his team to ‘wake up‘ and understand the uphill battle they have going forward.
Giannis Calls Out Bucks Amid Trade Rumors
Along with stating that ‘half the team‘ could be gone if the Bucks keep losing, despite getting the victory against the middling Bulls on Saturday night, Antetokounmpo made it clear that he isn’t happy where Milwaukee is at right now.
He said multiple times that the end-of-game dunk was meant to spark his team, rather than take a shot at Chicago.
“We’re 11th in the East,” he added. “Got to keep finding an identity. And if that’s to get a little bit of scrappy at the end, so be it. We’re not champs. Why should we play the clock out and have respect and fair play? We’re fighting for our lives right now.”
While Antetokounmpo has been the name floated in trade rumors after an early-December report from Shams Charania about his uncertain future with the franchise he brought a title to in 2021, the Finals MVP’s comments were a wake-up call to his teammates.
More recent reporting shows that the Bucks are now in fact looking to add talent at the trade deadline, in hopes of putting a competitive team around their franchise star, rather than sending him out in a deal.
“While teams around the league continue to hope that Milwaukee will ultimately make Antetokounmpo available, the Bucks have conveyed a desire to add talent to their roster before this season’s trade deadline,” Eric Nehm wrote for The Athletic.
With that, while Antetokounmpo’s comments about ‘half of the team not going to be here‘ might not signal a perfect situation for the organization, it at least shows he cares about the future of the franchise, despite his still uncertain status in Milwaukee.
Nikola Vucevic Trolls Giannis After Windmill Dunk
Despite Antetokounmpo’s postgame comments about his own team, his dunk in the final seconds against the Bulls still made headlines. It resulted in a postgame scuffle that saw Nikola Vucevic and other Chicago players go face-to-face with the Greek forward, though the brouhaha didn’t lead to any punches, it was the heated climax of the matchup.
Speaking after the game, Vucevic claimed Antetokounmpo made the late-game windmill dunk because the Bulls didn’t express interest in the star when his name came up in trade rumors earlier in the month.
“I‘m assuming Giannis was mad about that report that came out the Bulls didn’t want to trade for him,” the Chicago big man said.
Lou Canellis of Fox 32 Chicago reported ‘that the Giannis Antetokounmpo inquired about coming to Chicago…but the #Bulls weren’t interested‘ which, after the loss and dunk, sparked Vucevic’s comments.
After taking the win, Antetokounmpo himself posted a picture of the dunk on social media, with the caption, ‘I ain’t no painter but you get the picture.’
Whether it be the star actually upset the Bulls didn’t want to trade for him, trying to spark a run in his own team, a response to his name in various trade rumors and reports, or the revival of a Bucks-Bulls rivalry, Antetokounmpo made headlines for numerous reasons in his return from injury.
Milwaukee is now 13-19, and have a lot of room to make up if they want to make a playoff push with their star this season.
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