By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
A double-double consisting of 25 points and 14 rebounds for Giannis Antetokounmpo in the Milwaukee Bucks opener on Wednesday.
The Freak lasted just over 31 minutes, boosting his side to a win, 124-109, against the Philadelphia 76ers in Wells Fargo Center. He made 8/11 two-pointers and 9/16 free throws, besides dishing out seven assists and registering one block.
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“You gotta be patient, you gotta keep on making the right play. At the end of the day, it is going to be physical. You gotta expect that” the Greek international described his first appearance in the 2024-25 NBA Regular Season, “I just gotta get my rhythm back.”
“The last time I played an NBA game was April 9, the game I got hurt,” he referred to the premature ending to his 2023-24 campaign, “It is a different pace, different speed, different physicality, different spacing, more minutes. I have not played 32 minutes for a while. So, I will be OK.”
🇬🇷😤 Giannis Antetokounmpo started the season on the right foot with an amazing game !
🎯25 PTS
🗑️14 REB
🏹7 AST pic.twitter.com/JERCeC2rfh— Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet) October 24, 2024
Making a run in the second quarter behind Bobby Portis, the Bucks were able to get some space and limit playing time for starters.
“If we have the opportunity for me to rest, I will take it,” noted Giannis, “I am at the point of my career that when the game ends, I am just happy that I played the game and was able to participate. Obviously, there will be games that I am going to have to 35, 37, 40 minutes. But any game I could play less, I am very OK with myself and who I am and what I can bring to the table.”
Embiid and George out
The Sixers sidelined Joel Embiid due to a sore left knee and Paul George due to a bone bruise in his left knee.
“We did not have Khris [Middleton],” responded Bucks head coach Doc Rivers, “We are not worried about the opponent right now, honestly. We are more worried about how we play. I thought the first quarter it took awhile to get our feet going, but then once we started playing right we would not have cared who was out there.”
Bouncing back in the NBA after five years, French Guerschon Yabusele put up ten points, four rebounds, three steals, and three assists over 25 minutes for the 76ers. Turkish Adem Bona debuted in the league with two points and one rebound in two fourth-quarter minutes.