By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The Milwaukee Bucks were eliminated from the 2020 NBA playoffs. They lasted five games in the Eastern Conference semifinals series against the Miami Heat with leading star and reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo sitting out Game 5 and most of Game 4 due to his ankle injury.
“I tried to get ready for the game,” he explained after Game 5, “They told me that the right decision was not to play the game. I sprained my ankle in Game 3. I was not supposed to play Game 4 and I sprained it again.”
Apart from his injury which significantly impacted the series, he is slated for free agency after the 2020-21 season. Rumors recently surfacing presented the Toronto Raptors and the Miami Heat emerging as the frontrunners to sign him but that did not seem to be the case, according to the Greek Freak himself.
“We got to learn from everything,” he mentioned looking into the future immediately after his side’s final game of the season, “Hopefully we can get better as a team and come back. Hopefully, we can build a culture in Milwaukee for many years and compete every single year for the championship.”
If his long-term plans were not clear enough, Antetokounmpo also told Yahoo Sports that he is not considering leaving. “It’s not happening. That’s not happening,” he pointed out replying to a question regarding potentially moving on from the Bucks.
“Some see a wall and go in [another direction]. I plow through it,” he furthered, “We just have to get better as a team, individually, and get right back at it next season.”
Antetokounmpo finished his fifth postseason run with 26.7 points, 13.8 rebounds, and 5.7 assists per match over nine appearances. He put up 29.5 points, 14.6 rebounds, and 5.6 assists per regular season contest.