After his Milwaukee Bucks were eliminated in the first round of the NBA playoffs, star player and outspoken Christian Giannis Antetokounmpo rejected the notion that the loss represented failure. During a post-game press conference Wednesday (April 26), the power forward known as the Greek Freak took issue with a reporter’s question about success and achievement.
Despite being the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, the Bucks lost their best-of-seven series to the Miami Heat (a play-in team) in five games. Sports commentators debated whether that was the biggest upset in NBA playoff history.
During the series, Antetokounmpo, 28, battled a back injury, missing most of game one and all of games two and three. The two-time league MVP is Greek Orthodox and speaks openly about his faith.
Giannis Antetokounmpo Speaks About ‘Steps to Success’
After the Bucks were eliminated Wednesday, Giannis Antetokounmpo challenged a reporter who asked if he considered the season a failure. His answer is being praised for its honesty and its relevance for all types of pursuits and leaders.
“You asked me the same question last year, I think,” Antetokounmpo began. “Do you get a promotion every year? No, right? So, every year you work is a failure? Yes or no? No.” He continued, “Every year you work, you work toward something—to a goal—which is to get a promotion, to be able to take care of your family, to be able to provide a house for them or take care of your parents. You work toward a goal. It’s not a failure. It’s steps to success.”
As an example, Antetokounmpo pointed to basketball legend Michael Jordan, who played 15 years and won six championships. “The other nine years was a failure?” he asked. In 2021, the Bucks won their first championship in 50 years, and Antetokounmpo also asked: “So…it was 50 years of failure? No, it was not. There were steps to it. And we were able to win one, and hopefully we can win another one.”
Antetokounmpo said the reporter was asking the “wrong question” because “there’s no failure in sports. There’s good days, bad days. Some days you are able to be successful, some days you are not. Some days it is your turn, some days it’s not. That’s what sports is about. You don’t always win. Some other group is gonna win, and this year someone else is gonna win. Simple as that. We’re gonna come back next year and try to be better, try to build good habits, try to play better.”
Is Athlete’s Answer Commendable or a Cop-Out?
After Antetokounmpo’s comments went viral, reporters and fans debated its merits. “You don’t always win,” agreed NBA analyst and former player Charles Barkley. Injury is disappointing and losses are unfortunate, he added, but “to win a championship, a lot has to go your way.”
Reporter Adam Schefter tweeted a snippet from the press conference, writing, “Giannis is outstanding.” In a comment, someone wrote: “This mindset separates Giannis from every other NBA star. He is frustrated but focused on the big picture and can be at peace because he plays hard every time he takes the court. This is a leader.”
