Milwaukee Bucks and the Possibility of a New Championship

Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Milwaukee Bucks did not win a single game in the preseason, but Giannis is not worried because he believes the team needs to develop good habits for another championship. In his opinion, they just need to be more vocal and hungry.

The Bucks have the entire 2022-2023 season, however, to find cohesiveness before the NBA playoffs start. Is another championship possible for the “Greek Freak” and his Bucks?

Giannis Antetokounmpo played this past summer for the Greek national team at Eurobasket. As a result, the Bucks player wanted to be cautious. His minutes were therefore restricted during the preseason to prevent injury. The NBA star’s game was also inconsistent in the preseason, indicating that he needed to get back into a competitive mindset. Yet, the player feels his team has to defend better as well since the team had an irregular preseason.

They recently had a pre-season game in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, however, and there are signs that one will soon be played in Greece as well.

Giannis Antetokounmpo in the NBA after Eurobasket

The season opener began on October 20th against the Philadelphia 76ers. They were already playing without all-star caliber guard Khris Middleton. Middleton is recovering from a wrist surgery he underwent in July. Giannis’ other teammates include Jrue Holiday and Bobby Portis. Last season, the Milwaukee Bucks lost in the Eastern Conference semifinals to the Boston Celtics. Nevertheless, they won by two points against the 76ers. Thus, despite the fact that the Bucks’ first game against the Sixers was meant to foreshadow some of the team’s challenges, they ended up playing well.

Many believe, however, that the Sixers, Bucks, or Celtics could in fact win the Eastern conference. The Sixers’ prominent players include Joel Embiid, James Harden, and Tyrese Maxey. With the addition of P.J. Tucker, the Sixers are ripe for competition. At the same time, perennial all-star Harden is an unknown quality. Will he bounce back from his disappointing last season and playoffs?

The Celtics, led by Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Marcus Smart, defeated the Bucks last year on their way to getting to the finals. They lost to Stephen Curry’s Golden State Warriors. The Celtics will face early turmoil given the season-long suspension of their coach Ime Udoka.

Milwaukee Bucks to Navigate with the Unknown in Championship

Many see the Brooklyn Nets as an unknown quality—not for their team’s talent but for their mercurial personalities including Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and Ben Simmons.

Durant quarreled with the general manager and coach during the off-season. He is signed for a long-term contract and asked for a trade but finally rescinded this request.

During the COVID-19 crisis, Irving was a controversial figure. He rejected immunization, which had become mandatory in New York City for those working with the public. Irving rarely played last season despite being healthy. He also tends to identify with conspiracy theories in his public statements, and this is distracting.

Simmons, following his trade from the Sixers, is recovering from physical injuries and mental health issues. Given that the Nets also have the very talented Seth Curry, Joe Harris, and Patty Mills, if coach Steve Nash can pull this team together, they can also be an obstacle to the Bucks’ title contention.

Last year, the Chicago Bulls had a surprising revitalization led by DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, and Lonzo Ball. The Atlanta Hawks, led by Trae Young, John Collins, and Clint Capella, are pesky, and the Miami Heat, led by Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, and Tyler Herro, always play tough. Furthermore, the Toronto Raptors—with Pascal Siakam, Fred Van Vliet, and O.G. Anunoby—can’t be underestimated either while the Cleveland Cavaliers and Charlotte Hornets are also emerging threats.

Will Giannis Return Trophies to the Parthenon?

In 2021, the Bucks defeated the Phoenix Suns for the NBA championship. In the last two NBA seasons, Giannis has averaged 29 points, 11.3 rebounds, 6 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.3 blocks per game. Few players in the league have these flashy stats.

The Greek Freak, born to Nigerian parents in Greece, is a global favorite among fans. CNN’s Ben Church thinks Giannis Antetokounmpo is a preseason favorite to win this season’s MVP. Next to Lebron James and Stephen Curry, his charisma makes him among the top icons of the NBA. Many on a world scale would enjoy seeing his team rise to the top once again, and let’s not forget those who like seeing NBA trophies at the Parthenon.