Milwaukee Bucks: Giannis Antetokounmpo isn’t close to being satisfied

While the Milwaukee Bucks prepare to defend its first NBA Championship since 1971, the mindset circulating around the locker room hasn’t changed one bit. To no surprise, it seems to all be stemming from the leader, superstar, and MVP of this ball club — Giannis Antetokounmpo — speaking words of influence once again.

As Antetokounmpo took the stage for his first press conference of the season during Media Day on Monday, the reigning Finals MVP emphasized how even though they just won the title, there’s still more work to accomplish. From the moment Milwaukee lifted up the Larry O’Brien Trophy following a legendary Game 6 triumph over the Phoenix Suns on a special July 20th evening, Giannis had become addicted to the feeling and immediately thought about doing it again.

As the Milwaukee Bucks enter the 2021-22 season as defending NBA Champions, Giannis Antetokounmpo isn’t even close to being satisfied.

Antetokounmpo’s unique mentality, drive, humbleness, work ethic, and determination have led him to astonishing success and an NBA Championship at last, but the generational superstar has no plans of stopping here.

“I’m not even close to being satisfied,” Antetokounmpo said. “That’s the tone we have to set as a team. As the leader of this team, that’s the tone that I’m going to set.”

Giannis is still just 26 years old, living his best life. He’s already an NBA Champion, Finals MVP, two-time regular season MVP, five-time All-Star, five-time All-NBA, four-time All-Defensive, Defensive Player of the Year, Most Improved Player, All-Star Game MVP, and a father of two. Nevertheless, the rare mentality of Giannis Antetokounmpo only wants to chase more.

He hasn’t even received the championship ring yet and has had his eyes set on earning another one ever since the buzzer sounded that made him an NBA Champion for the first time. The mindset that Antetokounmpo has developed over his entire life has just revolved around getting better each and every day. There’s no ego or thinking about the past for Giannis. It’s all about moving forward and keeping the foot on the gas pedal, which has inspired us all.

No matter the situation, Giannis Antetokounmpo will always find a way to stay motivated. “We know we were the 2021 NBA Champs, but right now we’re just the Milwaukee Bucks again that nobody believes in us,” he stated. “And nobody believes that we can do it again.”

The Bucks will be heading into this upcoming season with the same “underdog” mentality as last season, and of course, Antetokounmpo’s contagious mindset and work ethic will spread across this somewhat newly constructed roster. Giannis hopes to have that same chip on his shoulder and also mentioned how all he cares about right now is getting better.

“Right now what I want is to get better,” Antetokounmpo said. “I don’t care about trophies. I don’t care about the MVPs. I don’t care about the Defensive Player of the Years. All those things, I don’t care. I care about getting better because if I do that, more things are coming.”

Giannis continued, “That’s what I’ve done my whole career and that’s how I am in this position. So, there’s no weight off my shoulder. I feel the same weight. I enjoy, obviously, that we’re the champions, but the weight is the same. Get better.”

The Greek Freak truly has a one-of-a-kind mentality that will continue to unlock new levels of himself and his teammates. It’s a gift that has stuck with him since being born, and it’s been a gift to the Milwaukee Bucks organization, the culture, the community, and everyone around him.

He’s done what has seemed unimaginable to the city of Milwaukee by leading the Bucks to a glory-filled title, the second in franchise history, right after signing a supermax contract extension to commit to this small market team long-term. And yet, the sky is still the limit for Antetokounmpo.

He may have dropped 50 points, 14 rebounds, and five blocks on an injured left knee in a title-clinching game, but Giannis knows that there’s still much more room for improvement, which can be a scary sight. It’ll be intriguing to see what’s in store for him this season as the Bucks prepare to defend their 2020-21 NBA Championship.

All that’s known for certain is that Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks will seek to repeat as champions by carrying the same motivation from before while embracing that “underdog” mentality that they’ve become accustomed to in that locker room. Under Antetokounmpo’s leadership, this team will always be hungry for more.