‘We’ve Got to Dominate’: How Giannis and the Bucks Saved Their Season
MOMENTS BEFORE THE Milwaukee Bucks were set to take the floor Saturday, the team huddled in a narrow hallway outside their locker room at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The stakes were high, and the energy was palpable. This wasn’t just another game—it was a chance to rewrite their season’s narrative.
For the Bucks, this stage was familiar territory. They are the only team to reach the semifinals in both NBA Cup tournaments. But the memory of last year’s disappointing finish loomed large, fueling their determination. This year, the tournament has been more than a midseason distraction; it’s been a lifeline for a team that started the season with a dismal 2-8 record. In many ways, it has saved Milwaukee’s season.
“Forty-eight f—ing minutes,” Giannis Antetokounmpo urged his teammates before their semifinal matchup. “Keep one another accountable. Somebody missed a shot, pick him up. Make him feel good about himself, so he can make the next one.”
Antetokounmpo’s rallying cry wasn’t just about the game ahead; it was personal. The Bucks were facing the Atlanta Hawks, a team that had beaten them in Milwaukee just weeks earlier. “We owe them one,” Giannis declared. “There’s no tomorrow. We need this s— tonight. Build good habits from 0 to 48. Right now, let’s go.”
Giannis Delivers an MVP-Caliber Performance
Antetokounmpo’s words weren’t empty. He backed them up with a jaw-dropping performance: 32 points, 14 rebounds, 9 assists, 4 blocks, and a staggering 68% shooting with just one turnover. He extended his streak of scoring at least 20 points while shooting 50% to 23 consecutive games, just two shy of an NBA record. But it wasn’t just the stats that stood out—it was the effort.
With 6:35 left in the game and the Bucks clinging to a 91-90 lead, Giannis dove to the floor to secure a loose ball, his 6-foot-11 frame crashing to the hardwood. Four minutes later, in a moment that went viral, he soared above teammate Brook Lopez to block an alley-oop attempt. Plays like these sealed the Bucks’ 110-102 victory and punched their ticket to the NBA Cup finals.
From Disaster to Dominance
For most of his career, Antetokounmpo has let his play do the talking. But this season, he’s stepped into a more vocal leadership role, a necessity after the Bucks’ disastrous start. Rival executives were already speculating about Milwaukee’s aging core and whether the team could support Giannis’ championship aspirations. Internally, though, Giannis was the steadying force.
“From the start of [the winning streak], he was really intentional with it,” Bucks guard AJ Green said. “Using his voice in huddles, in the locker room, and he’s continued to do that throughout this stretch for us.”
Teammate Bobby Portis echoed that sentiment, noting how Giannis has grown as a leader. “It’s cool to see guys’ leadership go to another level, especially at a time of the season when it was critical for us to get back to at least playing some good ball,” Portis said.
The Turnaround
After their rocky start, the Bucks have won 12 of their last 15 games, compiling the best record in the NBA since Nov. 12. Damian Lillard has found his rhythm as Giannis’ co-star, and Khris Middleton has returned after missing the first 21 games due to offseason surgeries. Defensively, the Bucks have climbed from 22nd to eighth in the league over this stretch.
“I would be texting with Giannis, and we’d be talking at practice or whatever, his mind was never shut off,” Lillard said. “He was never discouraged. He was never overly concerned. It was always, fight. Our conversations had always been, like, we’re going to turn it around. We’re going to figure it out. We’re going to lead. We’ve got to keep going. We’ve got to dominate.”
Looking Ahead
The Bucks have climbed from the bottom of the Eastern Conference to sixth place, just two games out of third. They are undefeated in NBA Cup games (6-0) this season and will face the Oklahoma City Thunder in the championship game Tuesday night (ABC, 8:30 p.m. ET).
“I’m trying to go out there and lead by example, which that’s what I love to do, but I know that my voice carries a lot of weight and is very important within the team,” Antetokounmpo said. “So I try to talk as much as I can without allowing my voice to go too much.”
Only three teams in the past 25 seasons have started as poorly as 1-6 or worse and still made the playoffs. The Bucks are aiming to join that exclusive group, using their NBA Cup run as a springboard for the rest of the season.
Key Takeaways
- Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard are the highest-scoring duo in the NBA, averaging 58.4 points per game.
- The Bucks have the best record in the NBA since Nov. 12, going 12-3 over their last 15 games.
- Milwaukee is undefeated in NBA Cup play this season and will face the Thunder in the finals.
As the Bucks prepare for the NBA Cup championship, they’re not just playing for a trophy—they’re playing to prove that their season, and their championship window, is far from over.
Originally Written by: Jamal Collier
