Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo acknowledged a tough start as Oklahoma City Thunder raced to a 38-18 first-quarter lead in Wednesday’s 122-102 loss at Fiserv Forum.
“For some reason, we weren’t moving the ball as much. The ball was sticking a lot,” Giannis said. “They move the ball very, very, very well. Whenever we tried to double-team Shai, he was making the right pass to his teammate. We didn’t do our job. We played a lot of one-on-one, and with this team, you can’t play one-on-one.”
Giannis reflected on the team’s offensive execution and touches. “I’m not the guy that will yell or demand the ball. I’ve played with teammates who understand the gravity I can cause for the team and how I can create for my teammates and myself. Maybe because we’re young, maybe because we’re not playing well, guys think it’s their turn.”
He also addressed recurring issues from previous losses. “Not playing hard. Not doing the right thing. Not playing together. Our chemistry is not there. Guys are being selfish, trying to look for their own shots instead of the right shot for the team. When we’re down 10, 15, 20, we try to make it up in one play and it’s not going to work.”
Giannis emphasized the importance of moving the ball and creating opportunities. “You have to move us to get a good open look. Right now, we just don’t get it. It’s not because guys don’t want to do the right thing, it’s just we’re young.”
He also discussed the role of veteran leadership. “It’s important, but as a young guy, you have to listen. If you keep making the same mistakes and try to do it on your own, it doesn’t matter what people say. You have to take feedback and criticism. I had great vets like O.J. Mayo, Caron Butler, Wesley Matthews, Kyle Korver, and Marvin Williams guiding me. They put me in position to help the team be successful.”
Reflecting on the Thunder’s dominance, Giannis said, “They played better than us, played harder than us. Tim Hardaway Jr., Aaron Gordon, everybody that came in played hard, physical, got to their spots. They have a winning culture, and we didn’t match their intensity.”
Despite finishing with 19 points, 14 rebounds, and seven assists, Giannis’ impact was limited as Oklahoma City improved to 36-8. The Bucks fell to 18-24, remaining 11th in the Eastern Conference, highlighting challenges in chemistry and execution with a young roster.
