The Milwaukee Bucks and Giannis Antetokounmpo suffered an early exit from the NBA Playoffs at the hands of Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat on Wednesday night.
At the postgame press conference, Antetokounmpo was asked if he viewed the season as a «failure» and he gave a refreshingly blunt answer to the question.
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Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, #34, warms up before Game 5 in a first round NBA basketball playoff series against the Miami Heat, Wednesday, April 26, 2023, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)
«I think you asked me the same question last year. Do you get a promotion every year? No, right? So, every year you work is a failure? Yes or no? No. Every year you work, you work for achieve something». – to a goal – which is to get a promotion, to be able to take care of your family, to be able to provide them with a house or take care of your parents. You work towards a goal. It is not a failure. It’s steps to success,» she said.
«Michael Jordan played 15 years. He won six championships. The other nine years were a flop?… Exactly, so why are you asking me that question? It’s the wrong question.
JIMMY BUTLER’S HEROICS DRIVE TO AN OVERTIME WINNER AS THE BUCKS ARE KNOCKED OUT OF THE NBA PLAYOFFS
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, #34, following a 128-126 loss to the Miami Heat during Game 5 of the 2023 NBA Playoffs at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee on April 26, 2023. (Michael McLoone-USA TODAY Sports)
«There is no such thing as failure in sports. There are good days, bad days, some days you can succeed, some days you can’t, some days it’s up to you, some days it’s not. That’s what sports is all about. You don’t always win. Some other group is going to win and this year someone else is going to win. Simple as that. We’re going to come back next year and try to be better, try to develop good habits, try to play better.»
«So 50 years from 1971 to 2021 we didn’t win a championship, was it 50 years of failure? No, it wasn’t. There were steps to that. And we were able to win one and hopefully we can win another.»
Butler had to play further in Games 4 and 5 to help the Heat pull off the surprising upset. In the overtime win, Butler hit the game-tying flyaway shot to send the game into the extra period. He scored 42 points on 17-for-33 shooting with eight rebounds, four assists and two steals.
Antetokounmpo had been hit during the series. He led Milwaukee with 38 points, 20 rebounds and three assists in the loss.
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, #34, sits on the bench after a 128-126 loss to the Miami Heat during Game 5 of the 2023 NBA Playoffs at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee on May 26. April 2023. (Michael McLoone-USA TODAY Sports)
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Milwaukee was the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference after finishing the year with the best record in the NBA.