Determination. Hunger. Two words, one team- Milwaukee Bucks. We often talk about comebacks, but if you truly want to see one, then, this is the team. This is the squad that kept falling apart in the initial days of the 2024/25 NBA season. But, under the leadership of their Greek giant Giannis Antetokounmpo, his grit to silence the detractors has changed the scenes. Their rise from being the 15th seed to the 5th seed in the East! This is the story of bouncing back. This is the story of a team who’re champions of the 2nd NBA Cup!

Of course, you cannot give Antetokounmpo all credit for pushing the team ahead. A combined effort of the players and the Doc Rivers and Darvin Ham combo surely did wonders. But why are we precisely talking about the Greek Freak? Simply because of his hunger for a change in the scenes and the mindset of the critics, months before the whole in-season tournament achievement gave the choicest of fruits. Let’s take you back in November.

Date: Nov.4. The Milwaukee Bucks finished drills following the team’s shootaround at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse. Giannis took a courtside seat with a smile on his face. Back then, the situation for the 2021 NBA champions was nothing short of hell and, well, two days earlier they lost to the Cavs despite having their 30-year-old playmaker on the court. However, Giannis of the past wouldn’t have stayed calm if he saw how his team was falling apart. So, coming back to the present, as he got up and headed to the team bus, he told The Athletic:

“Good or bad. Win or lose, play well, play bad, I don’t care. I really believe in myself, and I believe in my abilities. No, no, no. I knew we would turn it around because I know myself. I really know myself. When things go bad, people fall, I kind of get a little bit more — how can I say it — I have a little bit different edge about me.”

Surely, the beginning of the season didn’t map out the way the Bucks wanted. But the bounce back wasn’t too far. The star cleared his stance on what he wants for the team. Simply put, he shared what he wanted amidst all the pessimistic calls around him.

To the ‘unasked question’, while leaving, he reassured: “Don’t start worrying yet.” And surprisingly enough, the smile never left his face. Was it a promise he made to himself? Or was it his instinct that said good days are coming?

Since the horror start, A LOT has changed.

Doc Rivers’ boys have won 12 out of 15  games, reached the NBA Cup finals, and won the same. But while the rough patch was on, there were demands and rumors about Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s trade and premature exit.

You really need insane motivation and love for the franchise and the fans to stick around despite all the scrutiny Giannis Antetokounmpo experienced in the past month. The 2x MVP has shown what it looks like to rise from the ashes. Phoenix much?

And now that the trade market is hot and open, and all teams precisely the Warriors allegedly eyeing the Greek Freak, ESPN’s Senior insider Shams Charania has given further updates that only back Antetokounmpo’s straight stance for the Milwaukee Bucks.

Shams Charania’s latest update on Giannis Antetokounmpo reinforces his already-clear stance and “priorities”

Good news for the Milwaukee Bucks fans. Shams Charania reported: “There will be no Giannis Antetokounmpo trade this season. Between the Cup & moving forward… his priority is putting himself in a position where he can have long-term sustained winning wherever that may be. Right now, it’s Milwaukee.” Again, to make it clear, general manager Jon Horst has no intention of giving up on his champion-winner Greek superstar any time soon!

The 32.7 points average, 11.5 rebounds, 6.1 assists, and an insane 61.4 FG% speak volumes about the quality and force 30YO Giannis Antetokounmpo brings to the floor. Besides, the way the Bucks are moving ahead, it might not be an exaggeration to say they are the direct rivals of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the East and a potential name for that Larry O’Brien!

It takes a change of mind and heart to alter tough situations into stellar outcomes. The Milwaukee Bucks are the perfect example of it.

While the entire team worked relentlessly to make things stick, Giannis Antetokounmpo emerged as the biggest name. Not just because of his performance, but because the Greek Freak pushed himself while he was under mad, mad pressure and produced the results they needed. Therefore, this is the story of a comeback that leaves one message out loud: “Never lose hope.”