Giannis Antetokounmpo implores the Milwaukee Bucks to be more accountable: "You've just got to be a man"

Gain insights from Giannis on fostering a culture of responsibility and teamwork.

© Candice Ward-USA TODAY Sports

Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo does not shy away from receiving criticism or blame. And there was plenty to go around in the Bucks’ 128-119 loss to the Indiana Pacers in the semifinals of the inaugural In-Season Tournament (IST) last week in Las Vegas. However, rather than throw someone under the bus, he implored his teammates to hold themselves accountable for what transpired.

Straight shooter

Giannis rarely holds back when sharing his thoughts on a particular matter. This time, it was the Bucks’ disheartening loss to the Pacers, which denied them a shot at becoming the first champion of the IST. When asked whether the players or the coaches were to blame for the defeat, Antetokounmpo had this to say:

“No, even if it was about the organization and the coaches, I try to shoot straight. But at the end of the day, I don’t — as much as I don’t want to throw anybody under the bus — at the end of the day, the players play the game. We play the game, you know,” Giannis said.

“Coaches can say whatever they want to say and put us in the position to be successful, and you hope that they do that for you.”

Much was said about the team’s lack of organization on both ends of the floor — something that falls under the coaches’ domain. This play, in particular, doomed the Bucks, turning a three-point deficit into five in the blink of an eye.

Here's the sequence that broke the Bucks.

Neither Khris nor Giannis box Turner out.

Middleton waves off Lillard and Bucks don't know what they're running. You can see Griff going to sit down on the bench and not giving his team direction. No Bucks hustle back after turnover. pic.twitter.com/Ci1lsVGmOl

— Bucks Film Room (@BucksFilmRoom) December 8, 2023

Players play

However, Giannis wanted to ensure the players didn’t forget their part in the team’s shortcomings. He quickly put the onus on himself and his teammates, even if pundits had a field day with first-time coach Adrian Griffin’s supposed inexperience in orchestration.

Dame said in the postgame presser that there wasn’t a play call for that Middleton turnover. That play shouldn’t be debated. Down 3, 2 min left and you don’t have a set called????

— Bucks Film Room (@BucksFilmRoom) December 8, 2023

While that play hurt the Bucks, there were plenty of other plays that put Milwaukee right behind the eight-ball.

“You’ve got to make the plays, you know, like you don’t sprint back on defense, it’s not the coaches’ fault you don’t sprint back. If you’re not able to execute down the stretch, and you turn the ball over and you throw it to your opponent’s hands, it’s not the coaches’ fault. You’ve just got to be a man; you have to take that,” Giannis said.

Giannis calls out the Bucks to be more organized after semis loss to the Pacers