It has been several months now since Giannis Antetokounmpo came out with some controversial comments about the Milwaukee Bucks’ disappointing finish in the 2022-23 campaign. The former back-to-back MVP refused to accept the notion that the Bucks had failed following their first-round exit at the hands of the Miami Heat, and up until now, Antetokounmpo’s polarizing comments continue to draw flack from folks in and around the NBA.
Sam Mitchell Calls Giannis Antetokounmpo Out For Not Guarding Jimmy Butler
This time around, it’s former NBA head coach Sam Mitchell who’s decided to go on an unfiltered rant aimed at the Bucks talisman. For his part, Mitchell took exception to how Giannis opted not to guard Jimmy Butler in the Heat series. The fact that Antetokounmpo did not take on the responsibility of guarding the opposing team’s best player did not sit well with the former Minnesota Timberwolves shot-caller:
“This is the second time in a playoff loss that people are questioning why you weren’t guarding the other team’s best player,” Mitchell said on Sirius XM NBA Radio (h/t Gautam Varier of Fadeaway World). “And you sit there with the same answer, ‘Well, the coach didn’t put me on him.'”
“But yet you can come to the press conference and make all these demands. And say, ‘If this don’t happen.’ Well, what about in the series? When you could have done something about the game. When you could have said, ‘Hey coach, I got Jimmy.’ Where was all that then?”
Mitchell went as far as saying that he does not want to hear any of Giannis’ excuses after what he showed us during their very disappointing first-round exit in the playoffs:
“I don’t want to hear all that,” Mitchell added. “In the time to step up to be a star, you got quiet. What you talking for now?”
Giannis Antetokounmpo says he won’t re-sign in Milwaukee unless ‘everybody is on the same page’.@SamMitchellNBA tells @BGeltzNBA he’s tired of superstars not taking accountability for playoff failures. pic.twitter.com/k6o033gUDk
— SiriusXM NBA Radio (@SiriusXMNBA) August 26, 2023
It sounds to me like Sam Mitchell isn’t a fan of Giannis Antetokounmpo. Well, he’s far from the first one. Giannis has a whole collection of them, and this is exactly the type of criticism that will light a fire under his belly. Antetokounmpo is taking note of all this, no doubt.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Giannis missing so many games?
Giannis Antetokounmpo has missed several games due to injuries, including a hyperextended knee during the 2021 playoffs. Although the Milwaukee Bucks have experience playing without him, they undoubtedly prefer having their two-time MVP on the court. His absence primarily stems from the need for recovery and precautionary measures.
What is Giannis top speed?
Giannis reached a top speed of 16.6 mph during the game against the Celtics. It may seem like a traveling violation due to taking two dribbles before shooting a three-pointer, but it is not.
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