The confidence in the Milwaukee Bucks has taken a hit lately. Despite its strong offensive duo, even analysts like Charles Barkley aren’t favoring the Bucks. The expectations are the highest on the Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard combination. But with Dame’s condition questionable currently, the Greek Freak is carrying the team. The 2-9 start to their season gave way to a lot of doubt. But after winning two consecutive games, the Bucks are rising to some very high expectations. At this time, Antetokounmpo made an emotional appeal to fans to stick with them.

Giannis lit up the Pistons at home in Wisconsin, leading the shorthanded Bucks to a 127-120 victory. He put Milwaukee’s record at 4-8 with an insane 59-point performance. He’s made a scoring record of the 2024-25 season so far in the first 12 games for the Bucks. It made him righteously emotional in his post-game interview through chants of ‘MVP’ from the home crowd.

With a reminder of their slow start to the 2021 season which ended in a championship, Giannis said, “I remember the year we won the championship, we didn’t start the season very, very well. But at the end of the day, we never gave up. It doesn’t matter who plays, it doesn’t matter if the young guys going to play, we never give up.” 

The Bucks went 46-26 in 2020-21, most of their losses piling early in the regular season. 2024-25 could look similar but for that, Giannis is counting on his team to keep the momentum going.

“As a leader I keep reminding guys don’t take moments for granted,” Antetokounmpo told Bucks sideline reporter, Melanie Ricks. He also referenced Dame’s and Khris Middleton’s injury statuses indirectly, calling on his team to fill that void. “When guys don’t play and they’re not available and your number is called, go out there, give everything you have for the team, play the right way, and good thing’s going to happen, no matter who plays we don’t give up.”

As Giannis said, the team did step up in a big way to get another win while their leader made history.

Giannis Antetotokounmpo carries the team

The Bucks won the NBA Cup opener against the Raptors on Tuesday, standing 3-8 which boosted morale too. The game started dicey for the Giannis&Co. The Bucks had an 18-point deficit to catch up to. Former Buck, Malik Beasley, in his first game back in Milwaukee, scored 26 points. But the Bucks ‘didn’t give up.’

The Pistons would’ve won at the free-throw line but Ron Holland missed both shots and the game went into overtime. The Bucks added 16 points in overtime to seal the win.

Along with his 59 points including one 3-pointer, Giannis added seven assists, two steals, and three blocks. He’s reportedly the only player to make this monster stat while making a single 3. He also has the most 50-point or more games. Playing over 40 minutes, he scored 22 points in the first quarter, and 11 points in overtime.

The Bucks needed every point and Brook Lopez delivered with an impressive 29 points. Taurean Prince and Gary Trent Jr. added 15 and 11 points respectively. The  Greek Freak put the team on his back this game but he’s counting on his team to display a united front to repeat the 2021 success and prove their critics wrong.