Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks have been the topic of discussion for the past few days, considering the team’s worrisome form on the court. The issues even seemed to be spreading to the locker room, as the two-time MVP recently stated a lack of trust among players and called out some players’ “selfish” plays. And now, well-known media analyst Stephen A. Smith has responded to Giannis’ take.
The Bucks suffered a back-to-back home blowout loss against the OKC Thunder, 102-122. After the game, in an interaction with a media person, Giannis opened up about how players were making “selfish” plays and not playing the team game.
Even though Giannis’ production has dropped a little this season, that might be because the Bucks have looked massively short-handed on the offensive end.
Highlighting the conversations around Giannis’ trade before the deadline on his ESPN show First Take, NBA analyst Stephen A. Smith pleaded with the franchise to release him as he deserved better. He said:
“The Milwaukee Bucks need to wake the hell up and trade him. You’re not going anywhere, and this is one of the top 5 players on planet earth. Tell me five players who are definitely better than Giannis Antetokounmpo.”
Smith even went on to berate the Bucks, highlighting their postseason stats, and said that “you have no shot to a championship.” He criticized the team for not placing better pieces around Giannis to help him make a deep run.
Smith added Giannis’ number this season and pointed out his efficiency, shooting a career-high 65% from the field and nearly 40% from the 3-point line, which “is comparable to Steph Curry.” The Greek Freak managed to give a slow and steady start to the Bucks, but the season seemed to be getting derailed lately.
Smith even mentioned the Bucks’ game against the Spurs in their last home matchup, where the home crowd was seen booing him and the team.
Giannis Antetokounmpo booes back at the home crowd
Giannis Antetokounmpo’s frustration was visible in the Bucks’ home against the Minnesota Timberwolves, which they lost 106-139. As the team trailed 45-76 at halftime, the crowd began booing them as they made their way to the locker room.
After Giannis made an and-one over Julius Randle of the Wolves, he was hyped and even booed back at the crowd, showing a thumbs-down gesture. After the game, he seemed frustrated by the crowd’s behavior and even said that he was the franchise leader in almost every category and deserved more respect.
The trade talks around Giannis have grown, and any team would look to add an offensive weapon like him to the squad. While teams look to negotiate a deal with the Bucks, the 10-time All-Star’s future remains unknown. However, he has clearly stated his loyalty to Milwaukee earlier and insisted that he plans to stay put with the Bucks.
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!
