Giannis Antetokounmpo says his Milwaukee Bucks teammates make the game easier for him

The Greek Freak is playing like a true leader.

© Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Giannis Antetokounmpo didn't take a lot of shots when the Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Chicago Bulls via overtime, 133-129, on Monday night at the Fiserv Forum.

Giannis explained taking minimal shots didn't mean that he was less aggressive. The two-time MVP said he just took what the defense gave him and got his teammates more involved.

"They were double-teaming, guys were open. In the pick and roll, they were showing hard, guys were slipping, they were open again. When I got the ball in the pocket, they were coming and swarming, Brook (Lopez) was open, guys in the corner were open. I would just try to make the right play, and there's going to be games, and there's going to be teams around the league that I'm going to draw so much attention," Giannis said.

Trusting his teammates more

Giannis attempted only five shots in the first three quarters and ended the game with just 13 field goal attempts.

Despite the minimal shot attempts, Antetokounmpo still finished with a team-high 32 points, thanks to 18 trips to the charity stripe, where he made 14 shots.

Monday night monster.

32 PTS | 12 REB | 6 AST | 2 STL pic.twitter.com/VenlAPTmVe

— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) December 12, 2023

Because he is surrounded by "extremely talented teammates," Giannis sees no need to force his shots.

"Just having confidence with my teammates. I know that I have great playmakers, great shot-makers next to me. It makes my job a lot easier. So like, it's not hard to pass the ball to Dame (Lillard), or Khris (Middleton) or Brook or Malik (Beasley), it's easy. They can make shots or freaking AJ (Green), like whenever he shoots the ball, the ball is going in… Bobby (Portsi), Cam (Payne), that's easy," Giannis said.

With his ability to score easily, Giannis drawing multiple defenders is a common sight every game. But the two-time MVP said that with the kind of teammates he has, the game is easier for him when he attracts multiple defenders.

"My teammates make the game easier for me," he said.

Playing like a true leader

Giannis said he has become a willing passer, something that was not possible in the early part of his career. Becoming a team player is part of his growth as a player and, more importantly, as a leader.

"That's what the leader does. Sometimes, it's not about you; it's about the team getting a good shot, and I'm okay with that. Maybe before, when I was 24, I wasn't okay with that. I wanted to make something happen all the time. It's growth, you see a lot of players, throughout the history of the game, that they've done that, they're growing, they try to make the game easier," Giannis said.

Giannis says the Bucks showed signs of growth in their OT win over the Bulls