They bonded seamlessly with their third star, Jrue Holiday, who was acquired in a trade before the start of last season. Middleton and Antetokounmpo are entering their ninth season together in Milwaukee. "It's easy to follow suit when you have guys like that." and paving the way for all of us other guys," said guard George Hill, who was with the Bucks from 2018 to 2020 before rejoining them this season. "That holds a lot of value when you've got these guys that are champions now. And I think that line is very important." So we have that confidence, but it's not cockiness. "We've got great leaders on our team," Milwaukee guard Pat Connaughton said. There's no need to worry about failing because you know what you need to do." Milwaukee's stage is set for successīefore the Bucks' first practice together in September, Middleton and Antetokounmpo addressed the team on the practice court. So at the same time, you know what to expect. We've been through every type of situation you could go through. "We definitely have a lot more confidence in ourselves," Bucks forward Khris Middleton said. The Bucks have won the most regular-season games in the NBA over the past three seasons (162), although two of those campaigns ended in massive disappointments - losing a 2-0 postseason lead to Toronto in 2019 and an embarrassing loss to the Miami Heat in the bubble in 2020. I know they are going to use that to squeeze out games - that experience of winning a championship and going through deep runs together - that is going to win them a few games this year." "And then the whole coaching staff just getting more comfortable with each other and then having some success winning a championship, that naturally brings confidence. " have a core of guys that have been together for four or five years," Durant said. Nets star Kevin Durant saw the difference in the Bucks from the playoffs a few months ago to opening night last week. 1 in ESPN's latest Power Rankings, had a dominant season-opening victory over the Brooklyn Nets, followed by wins against the San Antonio Spurs and Indiana Pacers despite a rotation left undermanned by injuries. Not on a team with Antetokounmpo as its best player. He has made five consecutive All-Star teams.Ī week into the NBA season, the Bucks (3-1) don't appear to be suffering from a championship hangover. He has won a Defensive Player of the Year award. At the end of the day, there's a lot of people out there that still don't believe we can do it again," he said.Īntetokounmpo, 26, has already found his place among the basketball legends last week he was named to the NBA's list of the 75 greatest players of all time at the start of his ninth year in the NBA. You might say, 'OK I did it one time, I need to do it a second time.' And when you do it a second time, you want to do it a third time."įor players like Antetokounmpo, there's always a new goal to achieve, always a new slight - real or perceived - to acknowledge. "If you're a competitor, your mind creates something different, a different challenge. "But it's false," Antetokounmpo said after the Bucks received their 2021 championship rings. MILWAUKEE - Before winning his first NBA championship, Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo used to imagine how it would change his life: how it would be a weight lifted off his shoulders and how he'd finally be able to exhale. Why Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Milwaukee Bucks believe they can be the NBA's next great dynasty You have reached a degraded version of because you're using an unsupported version of Internet Explorer.įor a complete experience, please upgrade or use a supported browser
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