Giannis Antetokounmpo Criticises Bucks Teammates For Selfish Play And Seeks Change

Giannis Antetokounmpo questions the Milwaukee Bucks’ mindset after another heavy defeat deepens a worrying spell. The Bucks have now dropped four of their last five games, with each of the most recent three losses coming by at least 18 points, raising concern about chemistry, shot selection and overall effort at both ends of the floor.

The latest setback came against the Oklahoma City Thunder, who beat Milwaukee 122-102 on Wednesday. The Thunder were missing Jalen Williams, Isaiah Hartenstein, Alex Caruso, Aaron Wiggins and Jaylin Williams, yet still controlled the contest. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led Oklahoma City with 40 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds in a dominant display.

Recent results underline the scale of the Bucks’ slide. Before

this run, Milwaukee had won three of four games, but that momentum has disappeared. The Bucks lost 139-106 to the Minnesota Timberwolves and 119-101 to the San Antonio Spurs, and those one-sided scorelines added pressure on a team still adjusting during the regular season.

Antetokounmpo delivered 19 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists against the Thunder, yet the performance did not stop another heavy loss. Milwaukee again struggled to respond when falling behind on the scoreboard. The pattern of big deficits and limited collective response has led Antetokounmpo to highlight issues that go beyond missed shots or tactical choices.

Antetokounmpo believes recent blowouts reflect deeper problems with unity and decision-making on offence. After the defeat in Oklahoma City, Antetokounmpo delivered a direct assessment of the team’s approach, pointing to selfish choices, rushed plays when trailing, and a lack of shared purpose that, in Antetokounmpo’s view, is hurting the Bucks’ chances of recovering during games.

"We're not playing hard. We aren't doing the right thing. We're not playing to win," Antetokounmpo said. "We're not playing together. Our chemistry's not there. Guys are being selfish, trying to look for their own shots instead of looking for the right shot for the team. Guys are trying to do it on their own. At times, I feel like when we're down 10, down 15, down 20, we try to make it up in one play, and it's not going to work. "

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Across the last four games, Antetokounmpo has not attempted more than 13 field goals in any outing. That usage level is lower than many past stretches for Antetokounmpo. The two-time MVP is known for team-first habits, yet now questions whether a more assertive stance might be needed if the current trends continue.

Antetokounmpo explained that demanding the ball loudly has never been part of that approach, but suggested that might need to change. Antetokounmpo also mentioned that teammates in previous seasons understood how defensive attention around Antetokounmpo could generate easier looks, both for Antetokounmpo and for the rest of the roster.

"I'm not the guy that will yell and cuss his teammate out and demand the ball," Antetokounmpo said. "I've never done that in my career. But I feel like I've played with teammates that understand the gravity that I can cause for our team, how I can create for teammates and for myself, and how I can help the team be more successful. Maybe for some reason, which I don't understandmaybe because we're young, maybe because we're not playing wellmaybe guys think it's their turn. They want to carry the team on their back and try to turn this around, but I really don't get it. I really don't. They told me there's this thing that's called the white swan and black swan, that you've got to be the black swan and be more aggressive and demand the ball. It's something I haven't done, that I've never done my whole career. Maybe I've got to do it more. "

The Bucks now face the challenge of halting this slide while managing expectations around a star still central to their identity. Antetokounmpo’s comments place focus on shared responsibility, ball movement and trust. How Milwaukee responds over the coming games will show whether those concerns translate into adjustments on the court.