By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Appearing in a second game of the 2022 NBA Preseason, Giannis Antetokounmpo played plenty of minutes but the Milwaukee Bucks fell short of avoiding a winless run across five friendly contests.
Antetokounmpo, 27, put up a 24-point, 14-rebound double-double to go along with four assists and three steals. The Freak lasted just over 32 minutes, 11 more than his previous Preseason appearance opposite the Atlanta Hawks in Abu Dhabi last week.
“It is good getting back into the rhythm. It’s not going to be easy,” he admitted following the loss against the Brooklyn Nets Wednesday evening, “I got to go out, set the tone, play hard, build good habits, play to improve, play for the team. And as a team, we have to be hungry, play together, and defend better.”
The Preseason does not count beyond preparing for the Regular Season. “We have the whole Regular Season to find ourselves,” confirmed Antetokounmpo extending tuning up proceedings into the upcoming official games.
The two-time NBA MVP and also Finals MVP marking the 2021 championship run, Giannis finished third in MVP voting last season. He since represented Greece lasting all the way to the Quarterfinals of 2022 EuroBasket, before focusing on the tenth campaign of his NBA career.
Switching to the 2022-23 Regular Season, the Bucks will visit the Philadelphia 76ers next Thursday to open the 82-game schedule.
Besides the longer-term injuries to Khris Middleton and Joe Ingles, the Bucks have also listed Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Grayson Allen, and Wesley Matthews as day-to-day.
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