Giannis Antetokounmpo Recalls Secret NBA Finals Workout with Frustrating Expletives

Giannis Antetokounmpo recalls secret NBA Finals workout with expletives

The Giannis Antetokounmpo era is over in Milwaukee as the Bucks traded their franchise star to the Miami Heat this offseason. However, the impact of his time with the Bucks will be remembered for years to come, particularly the 2020-21 season when he helped the team snap a 50-year championship drought.

Giannis Antetokounmpo was the obvious Finals MVP in the 2020-21 season, but his availability was in question amid a knee injury sustained during the team's Eastern Conference Finals series against the Atlanta Hawks. The Bucks finished off the Hawks in seven games without their franchise player in Games 6 and 7, but they knew they would need him in the Finals if they wanted to win a championship.

In the weeks following the trade to the Heat, Giannis looked back on that particular moment in time, and the workout he had to endure to be cleared to play. He recalled the workout, which was organized by then Bucks assistant coach Josh Oppenheimer, as a frustrating experience.

"I'm like, 'what the [expletive] is this [expletive], man?' I never talk like that. 'What happened, G?'” Giannis said. “‘What the [expletive] is this [expletive]? [Expletive], a [expletive] draft workout? I’m playing an [expletive] game tomorrow!’ Like that. They were like, uh, like you feel good that you can go? I said, yes, like why you guys having me [do this?]”

The workout was a crucial moment in Giannis's journey to the 2021 NBA championship. During that Finals run, he ended up averaging 35.2 points, 13.2 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.8 blocked shots while shooting 61.8 percent from the field. The Bucks erased an early 2-0 deficit to win four straight games and the NBA championship.

Giannis's time with the Bucks will always be remembered as a successful era, and his impact on the team will be felt for years to come.