By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo explained how he learned to shut down the ego part and remain humble, especially ahead of big matches: By not letting any thoughts of past achievements take over and instead focusing in the moment and the now.
Here’s what Antetokounmpo said 24 hours before Game 5 of the NBA Finals between the Bucks against the Phoenix Suns.
“Usually – from my experience, right – when I think ‘Oh yeah, I did this. You know I’m so great, I had 30. I had 25-10-10’. Whatever the case might be. Usually the next day you’re going to suck. Simple as that. The next few days, you’re going to be terrible. I figured out a mindset to have. When you focus on the past, that’s your ego. ‘I did this. We were able to beat this team 4-0. I did this in the past, I won that in the past’. And when I focus on the future it’s my pride. ‘Yeah, next game, Game 5, I do this and this and this. I’m going to dominate’. That’s your pride talking. Like it doesn’t happen, like you’re right here.
And I kind of like try to focus on the moment, in the present. And that’s humility, that’s being humble. That’s not setting no expectations. That’s going out there and enjoying the game. Competing at a high level. And I think I’ve had people throughout my life that helped me with that but that’s a skill I’ve tried to perfect it, master it. And it’s been working so far so I’m not going to stop.”
Giannis and the Bucks won Game 2 and 3 to tie the series at 2-2 after two defeats in Phoenix. The former two-time MVP has been averaging 32.3 points, 14.0 rebounds and 5.5 assists in the series so far.