Giannis Antetokounmpo expressed confidence in the Milwaukee Bucks’ championship prospects while emphasizing his preference for a creator role in a Tuesday interview with Sport24 managing editor Harris Stavrou in Greece.
Antetokounmpo addressed trade speculation that dominated the offseason and what motivates him as he enters his 30s. Antetokounmpo made his first public statement about the upcoming season after months of rumors linking him to potential trades.
The Greek superstar revealed his need for high-pressure environments to remain motivated. He connected his evolving mindset to personal maturity gained through marriage and fatherhood.
“I like the challenge,” Antetokounmpo told Stavrou. “I have realized that I like to live with the pressure. Is that good? Is it bad? I don’t know. If I’m in an environment where there’s no pressure and I don’t think we can achieve something great, I don’t want to be there. It doesn’t make me happy as a person anymore.”
“When you reach 30 years old and you have four kids and you’re married – I think when you get married, you become more mature – I want to do what makes me happy because I think I deserve it, I’ve worked for it. What makes me happy is when I win and feel that there is a challenge. I mean, I wake up in the morning and say, ‘We have to win today. If we don’t win today, what will we hear?’ That is the thing.”
Antetokounmpo emphasized his desire to operate as a creator rather than solely as a finisher. The forward praised his performance during the final two months of last season when given more creative freedom.
“To get the best out of the team and to get the best out of me, I have to be a creator,” Antetokounmpo said. “I have to feel like I can create. If you look at the last two months of the team, when I had the green light, if I have the ball in my hands and I have that green light to create, I don’t always have to execute, but I have to feel like I’m creating. I have to feel the ball and like I’m part of the team. Not just be a play finisher. Not just go score 30. Get the ball in the pick-and-roll, get the ball in the post and score it.”
“(Creating) is my real self coming out, because that’s (what) I did at Filathlitikos, and that’s what I always wanted to do. There have been times in my career when I’ve done it, but most of the time, I’ve been the finisher. In the last two months when I was more of a creator of the team, I had a good time. I think the team did very well during that time.”
The Bucks’ management, including general manager Jon Horst and head coach Doc Rivers, have publicly committed to utilizing Antetokounmpo in a point forward role this season. This strategic shift aligns with Antetokounmpo’s stated preferences for increased ball-handling responsibilities.
Antetokounmpo expressed optimism about Milwaukee’s roster composition despite acknowledging the team’s youth. He highlighted specific players who could contribute to the team’s success.
“We certainly don’t have a lot of experience, but we’re young; we have legs, fresh legs. We got a really good big man (Myles Turner). We got a good point guard, Cole Anthony, who I think will be an X-Factor and be the surprise of the year.”
When directly asked about Milwaukee’s championship chances, Antetokounmpo provided a confident response that should encourage Bucks fans entering the new season.
“Yeah, we have a chance,” Antetokounmpo replied. “For sure.”