Bucks Zone

"I have to work harder"- Giannis Antetokounmpo expresses his willingness to lead by example

The Greek Freak is ready to provide the leadership role for the slumping Bucks.

Matthew Dugandzic

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Frustrations are growing at the Milwaukee Bucks, and Giannis Antetokounmpo is willing to take the cudgels for the team to get back on track.

“I have to do a better job setting the tone," Giannis said after Milwaukee’s sorry 110-113 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Thursday night. 

The Bucks headed into the All-Star break with back-to-back losses after also losing to the undermanned Miami Heat on Tuesday night.

Giannis ready for a bigger role

The Greek Freak leads the team in scoring (30.8), rebounding (11.2), and steals (1.4), but the two-time MVP feels he still needs to do more for the Bucks to get going after falling to a 3-7 record under Doc Rivers.

“I have to do a better job moving the ball. So many things that I have to do, but enough with the talking. Do we really want it? That’s going to be the question that I’m going to ask myself every day ‘til the end of the season, and I’m going to ask my teammates every day ‘til the end of the season. Do we really want it? And if we want it, do what it takes. Do what it requires to be good,” Giannis said. 

“I control what I can control, which is for me to set the tone. I have to work harder, man. I have to work harder. And that’s all I can think about right now. I’m locked in. I’m locked in,” Antetokounmpo added.

The Bucks were 30-13 when Adrian Griffin was fired. They started 1-5 under Rivers before chalking up two straight wins against the defending champions Denver Nuggets (112-95) and the Charlotte Hornets (120-84).

Giannis challenges teammates

The twin victories seemed to have put the Bucks on the right track, with Giannis even taking to social media to commend the team’s performance.

But just as when everyone thought they had figured things out, the Bucks crashed back to earth with two straight losses against teams that were missing key players. Now that the Bucks are groping for form again, Giannis urged his teammates to do whatever it takes to help the team.

"You have to come and shoot at night? Come shoot at night. You have to come before shootaround and shoot? Shoot. You have to lift weights? Lift weights. I. Don’t. Care. Do what it takes to be ready to compete. And that’s all you can do. Sometimes just be ready to compete. Some days it’s going to go your way, and some days it’s not going to go your way, but when effort is not there, it’s very hard for it to go your way,” Antetokounmpo concluded.

A frustrated Giannis Antetokounmpo calls out the team after a pair of embarrassing losses

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Matthew Dugandzic
MATTHEW DUGANDZIC

Matthew finished his bachelor's degree in Economics (Management) at the University of Split and got his master's degree in the same field at the University of Zadar. Whether it is playing the game as an undersized 6'3'' power forward or simply watching it, Matthew can't get enough of it. After all, he has been an avid NBA fan since the 2000s. But don't get him wrong, as Matthew still loves the old-school NBA and is a true student of the game. From on-court moments to off-court stuff, whether it's about the stars of modern-day basketball or legends of the game, Matthew covers every category of the NBA world and basketball in general, as long as it makes for an engaging and exciting story.