Giannis Antetokounmpo Scores 59 In Bucks Win, But Trade Rumors Persist

Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo dominated the floor Wednesday with a 59-point performance, almost singlehandedly carrying Milwaukee to a 127-120 win over the Detroit Pistons. Antetokounmpo has been at the center of trade rumors in recent weeks, but for now, he is still providing for his longtime team.

Competing without Damian Lillard and Khris Middleton, the Bucks either had to lean heavily on their big men or look to their bench for production against the Pistons. The team employed the former option, running the offense through Antetokounmpo and center Brook Lopez. The Greek Freak’s 59-point, 14-rebound night grabbed all the headlines, but Lopez also scored 29 points in the win. 

“It’s funny how a coach thinks, though,” Bucks coach Doc Rivers said after the game. “We called a timeout and I’m thinking, ‘OK, Giannis has 22 of our 24. This ain’t good.’ I’m thinking the exact opposite. We gotta figure out how to get someone else involved in this game. … And then after the game, you realize how special that is.”

The Bucks did get other players involved late in the game Wednesday, as Lopez proved to be an effective complement in overtime, while Taurean Prince put together a flurry late in the fourth quarter. That being said, only two players besides Antetokounmpo and Lopez scored more than 10 points.

The motivation behind trade rumors involving Antetokounmpo is that the Bucks are no longer an organization that can win a championship. The team now has a 4-8 record, an improvement from a 1-6 start, but it required a near-career-high scoring night from Antetokounmpo for the team to beat the 5-8 Pistons in overtime. It was a nice win and a showcase for Antetokounmpo’s overwhelming style. But without Lillard and Middleton on the floor, it also became even more apparent how dependent the team is on its generational star.

The game against the Pistons was the beginning of a crucial stretch for the Bucks. Eight of their next nine games are against teams that currently have losing records. It will be a golden opportunity to get back to a winning record and lock down Antetokounmpo for another run to the playoffs. Failing to do so could be the deciding factor in the decision to trade Antetokounmpo and effectively end Milwaukee’s years-long run as a perennial contender.