Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo acknowledged a rough start as the Oklahoma City Thunder raced to a 38-18 first-quarter lead in Wednesday’s 122-102 loss at Fiserv Forum.
“For some reason we weren’t moving the ball that much. The ball was hanging a lot,” Giannis said. “They move the ball very, very, very well. Every time we tried to double Shai, he made the right pass to his teammate. We didn’t do our job. We played a lot of one-on-one, and with this team you can’t play one-on-one.”
Giannis reflected on the team’s offensive execution and touches. “I’m not the guy who shouts or demands the ball. I’ve played with teammates who understand the gravity I can bring to the team and how I can create for my teammates and myself. Maybe because we’re young, maybe because we’re not playing well, guys think it’s their turn.”
He also discussed recurring issues from previous losses. “Not playing hard. Not doing the right thing. Not playing together. Our chemistry is not there. Guys are selfish and try to find their own shots instead of the right shot for the team. If we are down 10, 15, 20, we try to make it up in one go and that’s not going to work.”
Giannis emphasized the importance of moving the ball and creating chances. “You have to move us to get a good open look. Right now we just don’t get it. It’s not because guys don’t want to do the right thing, it’s just that we’re young.”
He also discussed the role of experienced leadership. “It’s important, but as a young guy you have to listen. If you keep making the same mistakes and trying to do it on your own, it doesn’t matter what people say. You have to accept feedback and criticism. I had great vets like OJ Mayo, Caron Butler, Wesley Matthews, Kyle Korver and Marvin Williams guiding me. They put me in a position to help the team be successful.”
Reflecting on the Thunder’s dominance, Giannis said, “They played better than us, played harder than us. Tim Hardaway Jr., Aaron Gordon, everyone who came in played hard, physical, got into their spots. They have a winning culture and we couldn’t match their intensity.”
Despite finishing with 19 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists, Giannis’ impact was limited as Oklahoma City improved to 36-8. The Bucks fell to 18-24 and remained 11th in the Eastern Conference, highlighting the chemistry and execution challenges with a young roster.
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