The Milwaukee Bucks are winners of three of their last four games, and Giannis Antetokounmpo likes the direction they're headed in. After Monday night's win in Charlotte, he spoke in the locker room and said the quiet part out loud about this team: that to continue improving, they simply need to not get in their feelings so much.
"It feels good, getting back to our old selves," Antetokounmpo said. "We have a really good team, we just got to get out of our feelings. I think we get in our feelings too easy, and that starts with me. Everybody's got to get out of our feelings, man.
"When things don't go well, we can't be whining, or complain, or like, demand for the ball, demand for the call, or demand for things to go well. We haven't earned nothing. At the end of the day, you have to go out there and earn every single possession and put yourself in a position to be successful."
In the midst of a season marked by inconsistency, trade rumors and other frustrations, this is just about the most raw and true message Giannis could have delivered. This organization wants to make things work with Antetokounmpo so badly, and the best chance they're going to have at making that a reality is by embracing the grind and not getting down in the dumps when things go wrong.
Giannis Antetokounmpo detailed how the Bucks' mentality has to change
It's obvious that the mental side of things has been an issue in Milwaukee this season. When shots stop falling or calls don't go their way, the Bucks have too often let frustration bleed into their effort and overall focus on both sides of the ball. It's shown up in blown leads, wavering effort, and stretches where the team looks disconnected despite having elite talent on the floor.
But recently, there's been a noticeable shift. The Bucks have been playing with more defensive urgency and better body language. Giannis has been setting the tone by hustling defensively and trusting the offense instead of forcing the issue. That's allowed the rest of the rotation to settle into their roles and play more freely.
This stretch has also highlighted why Milwaukee still believes in its core. When the Bucks stay locked in, they're capable of overwhelming teams physically and mentally. Their size and shot creation are still major advantages when paired with consistent effort. The biggest problem really isn't talent, it's just emotional discipline.
Giannis putting accountability on himself matters more than any schematic tweak. He's the emotional barometer for this group, and when he stays composed, everyone else tends to follow. If the Bucks can carry this approach forward and avoid spiraling when adversity hits, there's still plenty of time for this season to turn into something meaningful.