Antetokounmpo talks about season's challenges, Lillard's integration / News - Basketnews.com

Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo talked about the difficulties of the current NBA season and how his new teammate, Damian Lillard, is adjusting to the team.

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Giannis Antetokounmpo has been one of the most dominant players in the NBA for the last few years, carrying his team, the Milwaukee Bucks, to the NBA Championship in 2021 and helping them win 1 Conference title, as well as 5 Division titles.

Free throws this season

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Individually, he was named regular season MVP twice in a row, was the Finals MVP in 2021, and made the All-Star 8 times.

While he is still up there, this current season has been quite challenging for him and the Bucks. The mid-season coaching change with Adrian Griffin being sacked in favor of Doc Rivers, as well as Damian Lillard's difficult integration process, have created an uneven season for both the Greek Freak and his team.

Speaking to The Athletic, the superstar elaborated on his thoughts on the season.

"Yeah, it's... hard. I feel like for me, this has been the hardest season that I've played — not only physically, because I had the procedure done on my left knee in the end of June. And I had to get back to myself," started Antetokounmpo. "I feel like when the season started, I wasn't [myself]."

And the reason was that I hadn't played basketball until like the second week of training [camp]. I had to get back to being by myself. But emotionally, and mentally, it's been draining," he explained.

"I'm not going to lie to you. It’s been extremely tough, from Coach Bud [Mike Budenholzer] being let go to Coach Griff [Adrian Griffin] coming in, being let go, then [interim] Coach Joe [Prunty] for three games, Coach Doc [Rivers] coming in, and then you have Dame [Damian Lillard]. It’s been tough," he said about the chaotic Bucks season.

In spite of all the hardships, the Greek Freak insists that such challenges are necessary for himself individually and for the team to succeed.

Milwaukee Bucks / Schedule

Los Angeles Lakers Milwaukee Bucks123-122 Los Angeles Clippers Milwaukee Bucks117-124 Sacramento Kings Milwaukee Bucks129-94 Milwaukee Bucks Philadelphia 76ersFri00:00 Milwaukee Bucks Phoenix SunsSun17:00 Boston Celtics Milwaukee Bucks03-2023:30

"But at the end of the day, I think when you face adversity in life, that's when you excel the most. So I'm just trying to, as a leader, as a basketball player, as a person, just trying to do what I do, keep on enjoying the game of basketball, keep on hanging in there, keep on trying to improve my game, doing the right thing," he said.

"And hopefully, step by step, I get where I want to go and I'm able to help the team get where we want to go."

Of course, one of the bigger difficulties of the season revolved around the addition of Damian Lillard to the Bucks' squad, who left his long-time team, the Portland Trail Blazers, to carry the Milwaukee team to another level.

"I said the same thing [then]. I said that just because you have two great players doesn’t mean that it’s gonna work [immediately]," Antetokounmpo said about Lillard's integration. "It doesn't work that way. You have to put in the work, you know?"

At the end of the day, I don't feel like we haven't been doing a good job. Can we get better? Yeah, for sure," he admitted. "But I feel like with what we have been given, we've done the best job that we could possibly do. Obviously, as you say, me and Dame don't have that history together. But every single game, we’re getting closer," he explained.

"Now, today [a 129-94 loss to the Sacramento Kings] wasn't a game where we played to our level. But at the end of the day, I know what having that guy next to me [means]. I know what he brings to the table, and he knows what I bring to the table," he said, expressing optimism after a blowout loss to the Kings.

"And as a team, we're just going to keep continuing to get better, to keep building habits. Hopefully, Khris [Middleton] can come back healthy and elevate this team. But we cannot use that in our mind as an excuse, like, 'Oh, Khris is gonna come back and [fix everything]. It doesn’t work that way. You have to put the work in. But yeah, it's a hard season for [Lillard] too," he admitted.

On the topic of Lillard, the star point guard had made headlines when he stated that living in Milwaukee is particularly difficult for him, as he is often reduced to only a few activities that he can partake in, which is unlike his stint in Portland.

"Yeah, and the off-the-court stuff is hard [for Lillard]. But let's put that on the side. Just being on the court is hard for him," said Antentokounmpo about his teammate. "He's coming out of his comfort zone, playing with a guy like me on a team where guys can make plays," he said before elaborating.

"Maybe a lot of time in Portland, he didn't necessarily have guys who can make as many plays as we can make. You have Brook [Lopez]. You have Bobby [Portis]. You have Khris. You have Pat [Connaughton]. You have Malik [Beasley]. You have Jae [Crowder]," he listed. "Guys can make plays, you know?"

It's easier [here] to give it up and wait for something to happen. So that's something new for him. [He's] playing for something..."

For the Greek Freak, the idea is to compete every step of the way, which is something decidedly harder for Lillard, who is coming from a team that was often far away from the championship picture.

"We're not playing to make the playoffs. Obviously, when we go to the first round, we've got to compete there, then go to the second round, go to the third round," he said. "We've got to do it step by step. That’s how it works," he noted.

"But at the end of the day, we have a goal in our head that we're trying to accomplish. So on the court, it is hard for him, you know? Coming to a team and then having three coaches in six months, that's hard," Antetokounmpo said in support of his teammate.

The superstar then gave an example from their equipment manager, comparing his role to that of Lillard.

"Eric [Ofcharsky], our beautiful [assistant] equipment manager, our handsome equipment manager, can make that move, but he's not expected to perform in front of 20,000 people and be Dame every single night," Antetokounmpo said in comparison.

"That might be hard at times. But that’s why we get paid the big bucks. You've got to do what you've got to do and keep going. Keep on moving, man. Keep on moving," he concluded.

This season, Lillard is averaging 24.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 6.8 assists per game. Antentokounmpo, for his part, is averaging a double-double of 30.8 points, 11.2 rebounds, and 6.4 assists per game.

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