Giannis Antetokounmpo has played in three of the Milwaukee Bucks' 11 playoff games over the past two seasons, both of which resulted in early exits.
With their star player banged up, it's not shocking that the Bucks have struggled to get back to the mountaintop. Now, after missing every single game of the 2024 NBA Playoffs, the Greek Freak has made a promise to Bucks fans, saying he vows that this team will get back to where they belong.
Milwaukee, THANK YOU! This season didn’t end the way we wanted it to, but I promise you we will get back to where we belong and they’re going to give us our damn flowers 💐 pic.twitter.com/lcvlNG5Hpn
— Giannis Antetokounmpo (@Giannis_An34) May 23, 2024
An assertive Giannis Antetokounmpo makes promise after Bucks' early playoff exit
Injuries limiting or completely taking him out of the past two postseason runs likely keeps Giannis up at night. He's the ultimate competitor and wants nothing more than to help this team get back to the mountaintop again and again. Next season, he's likely going to come back with a vengeance.
Fans will remember that Antetokounmpo issued a warning after last season as well. That message simply read, "I'm tired of the disrespect. I'm coming." What did Antetokounmpo proceed to do after sending out that message? He became the first player in NBA history to average 30 points per game while shooting at least 60 percent from the field.
I’m tired of the disrespect. I’m coming. pic.twitter.com/eMRPb6kbLJ
— Giannis Antetokounmpo (@Giannis_An34) May 9, 2023
With an off-season to get his body right and continue to train, the Greek Freak will do everything he can to put this team in a position to win next season. In addition to recovery, Antetokounmpo's plans should involve getting in extra work with Damian Lillard. The two had very little time to build chemistry last off-season, given how late the trade happened, and they will now have adequate time.
Speaking of Lillard, he's also going to have plenty of motivation next season. Speaking on truTV while the NBA Conference Finals were on, Lillard said, "Somebody gonna win their first one so that's always hard to be on the outside looking in." The guard came to Milwaukee for a chance to win, and he's going to be motivated to do just that next season.
Having your two superstars motivated to get back on top provides some reason for optimism after a bleak playoff exit that featured countless injuries.
Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis.