Giannis Antetokounmpo spoke about his first game back after an eight-game absence in Milwaukee’s 112-103 win over Chicago. “It’s just…when you have a soft tissue injury you got to be extremely careful. You can’t skip no steps,” Giannis said, explaining the careful ramp-up before returning to action.
The two-time MVP emphasized patience in his recovery. “Obviously, in the past when I was younger, the recovery process for me was way faster…now you got to be patient with everything the medical staff have for me and the protocol and the program,” he added.
Giannis detailed his approach to getting back into game rhythm. “I told [my teammates] don’t look for me, just make plays…I was trying to work myself back into the game,” he said, describing how he gradually reintegrated after 26 days away from full action.
He highlighted the importance of team trust and spacing. “It’s part of growth…if I dive, the low man is going to pre-rotate early…then you throw the ball to the top…that means the corner is wide open. I trust my teammates, and I want them to know that I trust them,” Giannis explained.
Reflecting on his performance, Giannis noted the physical adjustments. “Everything I felt out there is understandable…to feel a little bit rusty, not having my wind, feeling uncomfortable…doesn’t really matter. When I was available, when I was able to make plays for my teammates…felt good,” he said.
He also explained his mindset on a late-game dunk. “Why should we play the clock out and have respect and fair play? We’re fighting for our lives right now…as long as I’m here, I’m going to give everything I have even in the last second of the game,” Giannis said.
The Bucks star spoke on integrating with his teammates, including Ryan Rollins and Kevin Porter Jr. “We haven’t played a lot of minutes together…but both of them can handle the ball…we have a lot of guys that can make plays, space the floor, and play off each other,” he said.
Giannis expressed joy in simply being on the court. “I’m happy I was out there. I just felt joy being out there,” he said, emphasizing his focus on availability and contributing wherever needed.
Milwaukee improved to 13-19 overall and 9-8 with Giannis active, with Ryan Rollins adding 20 points and Bobby Portis posting a double-double. The Bucks will look to build on this momentum Monday in Charlotte, while the Bulls aim to regroup against Minnesota.
