This year is the tenth anniversary of Giannis Antetokounmpo’s first ever playoffs appearance. He’s come a long way since then but he can never forget what happened that time, turning Milwaukee Bucks into a perennial title contender and a league winner in 2021.
Now, as the NBA opens a new postseason, he has one advice not just to his teammates but also to those who will get a taste of playoff basketball for the first – do not imitate what he did back in 2015.
“Don’t get too high, don’t get too low. Not just for Scoot [Kevin Porter Jr.] but also for anybody that plays in the playoffs for the first time,” he told reporters during media day ahead of their first round match up with the Indiana Pacers.
“I remember my first playoffs, I got ejected. My first playoff, I tackled somebody so it doesn’t get worse than that. It doesn’t get worse than that,” he continued while laughing.
Giannis Antetokounmpo’s wrong decision back in 2015
“Just do not tackle somebody.”
For those who do not remember, the Bucks played the Derrick Rose and Jimmy Butler-led Chicago Bulls in the first round. The young Milwaukee pushed them to six games and they were playing it at the Bradley Center.
However, he was not able to finish Game 6 after he tackled Mike Dunleavy, to the shock of the home fans. He was subsequently ejected.
Bucks were down 30 points in the second quarter. Giannis did not contest his ejection but some people thought he already gave up on the game and he was aware of the consequence of his action.
He’s grown that kid and now, he is coming to the playoffs in good spirit and healthy after barely playing in the last two playoffs wherein his team were booted out of the first round.
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