Milwaukee Bucks: Foul trouble holding Giannis Antetokounmpo back

Having fouled out in both of the Milwaukee Bucks’ first two games of the season, a mixture of tough calls and indiscipline is holding Giannis Antetokounmpo back.

When the Milwaukee Bucks re-assembled for Media Day ahead of the 2019-20 season, just three weeks or so ago, Giannis Antetokounmpo didn’t seem quite as exuberant as he had done at the event in previous years.

Truth be told, he seemed tired, and considering the globe-trotting offseason, jam-packed with promotional obligations, and the pressure of carrying his nation’s hopes at the FIBA World Cup, that he’d just been through, that was completely understandable.

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That’s not to say, there weren’t instances when Giannis cracked a smile, or brought a laugh to the room, and just two games into the new campaign, one of them now seems particularly notable.

Finishing up an answer to a larger question about his World Cup experience with the Greek national team, Giannis shared a knowing smile with his brother, Thanasis Antetokounmpo, sat beside him, and concluded:

"“The other thing I’m going to say is I fouled out in three of the five games. You guys are not going to see that with the Bucks. I’m going to try to stay in the game!”"

A ripple of laughter may have run through the room at the time, but try as he might, Giannis has fouled out in both of the Bucks’ opening two contests of the season.

Foul trouble is not entirely new for Antetokounmpo by any means, as it was an issue he frequently wrestled with through the early years of his development with the Bucks. But having fouled out only twice in the regular season last year, it appeared as if that had become a problem of days gone by for the MVP.

These things happen, particularly when referees are looking to clamp down on points of emphasis, and just generally being overly fastidious in how they’re officiating the game. Given his recent history at the World Cup, just six weeks ago, Giannis has fouled out in five of his last seven meaningful games. That can’t simply be dismissed out of hand.

There’s no question that Giannis has had reason to feel aggrieved about some of the fouls against him, notably the highly questionable calls that led to his sixth and final fouls against both the Rockets and Heat. Having said that, though, there have been plenty that he’s thoroughly deserved and they’re the errors that bring you within one poor call of being out of the game.

Antetokounmpo has stressed his desire to take on a different kind of leadership role this season, but that has to begin with being smarter and more controlled. That extends beyond Giannis’ fouls, and also applies to the eight turnovers he logged against the Heat.

Of course, nobody is more aware of this, or likely more critical of himself for this recent shortcoming, than Giannis, himself. Speaking to Ben Steele of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Antetokounmpo did at least seem able to pinpoint the root cause of the foul issues that both he and his teammates have been dealing with:

"“Stop being really excited,” Antetokounmpo said when asked how his team could limit fouls. “Stop reaching. Make sure that you know you have help behind you. If a guy goes by you, there’s help, there’s Brook (Lopez), there’s me. So you don’t have to foul.“But definitely being less excited. When you’re extremely excited you start reaching a lot. You play a little bit dumb, you get stupid fouls. But we’re going to get better at that part, too.”"

Also speaking to Ben Steele, Mike Budenholzer clearly laid out the team’s position on recent foul troubles too:

"“Giannis is getting some fouls that we need him to be — and we as a defensive group – need to be more disciplined,” Budenholzer said. “The sixth foul (against Miami) was a tough call. As physical as they are — the way they play screens and a lot of physical situations — that was a tough sixth foul on Giannis.”"

There’s no question that Antetokounmpo will eventually adjust to the way he’s being officiated, and it’s likely that the stance of referees will soften up more generally as the season progresses too.

Still, Antetokounmpo may already have the best answer, not just for the problems plaguing him early on, but also some of Milwaukee’s wider team issues.

The Bucks have looked frantic for large spells of their two opening games, and as if they’ve yet to settle into any real groove when it comes to simply playing their own game. That excitement, that anxiety, needs to be managed, and the message Antetokounmpo delivered to the team before their clash with the Heat likely bears repeating on that front.

As it is, so much of Antetokounmpo’s start to the season has been dazzling, and historic, in terms of raw production. Now, if he can just get a handle on his early season over-zealousness and stay in the game, there’ll be no limit to what’s possible for both Giannis and the Bucks.