Giannis Antetokounmpo Returns to Action in New York
Giannis Antetokounmpo made his comeback on the court in New York, just a month after dodging questions about a potential trade to the Knicks over the summer. In his first game back with the Bucks, he scored 30 points, grabbed 15 rebounds, and dished out eight assists in only 28 minutes during a 118-109 loss to New York in the NBA Cup elimination round.
Last year, the Bucks celebrated winning the season trophy, with Antetokounmpo earning the tournament MVP title. However, he had been sidelined for the last four games due to a thigh injury and the team is currently on a seven-game losing streak.
“I really want to win games and tournaments,” he shared, reflecting on his jersey number. “I had the chance to go to Las Vegas twice in a row, and, well, it’s tough thinking I might miss that chance with 34-Red.” He paused for a moment. “At the end of the day, I want to win. Losing seven straight is something I don’t recall happening before. We just need to stay strong and secure a win tomorrow in Brooklyn.”
“It felt good… I felt strong being back. I wished to help the team win, but we’ve got another game tomorrow to get back on track,” he added.
Initially, Antetokounmpo was questionable for the game at Madison Square Garden, but after participating in the morning shootaround, he was cleared to play about an hour before the game started.
He started the game a bit rough, racking up two personal fouls within the first 90 seconds. Still, he managed to score 15 points by halftime, showcasing some impressive alley-oop dunks and matching that tally in the second half.
Doc Rivers, the Bucks’ coach, mentioned, “Having Giannis back is vital, but limiting his minutes is challenging in these games. We lost momentum when he was off the floor.”
In fact, one of Milwaukee’s early season victories came against the Knicks, where Antetokounmpo scored a remarkable 37 points on 16-of-22 shooting. It’s interesting how things turn around, isn’t it?
When touched on the rumors about a possible trade report from ESPN, he simply said, “I don’t remember.” He added, “Right now, I’m here representing my team; it’s what matters. We’ve beaten the Knicks before, so ultimately it’s about the next game…we aim to put together a good couple of games.
“I haven’t even read that article. I try to steer clear of all the trade speculation; it doesn’t bother me at all. My focus is on helping the team win,” he said, trying to keep things professional.
Reflecting on the motivations that night, he acknowledged, “There were a lot of extra reasons.” He noted last year’s three-game season series against the Knicks, admitting, “They were clearly better than us. We didn’t present much of a challenge. I remember these things; I don’t forget.”
