Nigerian Freak Giannis Antetokounmpo explains Bucks championship challenge,  teases visit to Nigeria

Giannis Antetokounmpo has declared that the goal is to bring another championship to the city of Milwaukee.

Nigerian Freak Giannis Antetokounmpo explains Bucks championship challenge, teases visit to Nigeria

Tosin Abayomi 23:15 - 19.11.2023

It is possible that Giannis Antetokounmpo makes his 1st visit to Nigeria in 2024.

Greek-Nigerian professional basketball player Giannis Ugo Antetokounmpo is targeting another NBA championship with the Milwaukee Bucks.

The 28-year-old led the Bucks to a 58-24 record which is the best in the Eastern Conference and the association for the 2022/23 regular season.

Antetokounmpo two-time NBA MVP played in just 24 games together this season with the Big Three including Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday.

He featured in just 63 of a possible 82 games and has now set his sights on a successful post-season run with the Bucks.

Giannis Antetokounmpo continues to push for a 3rd MVP recording a triple-double as the Bucks beat the Wizards.
Giannis Antetokounmpo continues to push for a 3rd MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo continues to push for a 3rd MVP recording a triple-double as the Bucks beat the Wizards.

Giannis Antetokounmpo explains Bucks championship aspirations

Speaking ahead of the start of the NBA playoffs, Antetokounmpo declared that the goal is to bring another championship to the city of Milwaukee.

He said,   “Our goal is to win the championship and be the last team standing.

“But at the end of the day, this is sports. It's not about talking. 

"Hopefully we can play to the best of our abilities and bring another championship to Milwaukee.”

Giannis Antetokounmpo celebrated his father's Poverty Is No Joke initiative.
Giannis Antetokounmpo celebrated his father's Poverty Is No Joke initiative.

Giannis Antetokounmpo on Bucks home-court advantage

After a fast playoff defeat at the hands of the Celtics during the semifinals of the previous season, the Milwaukee Bucks will be aiming to win its second championship in three seasons. 

On Boston's home court, the Bucks fell to the Celtics in Game 7 by a score of 28 points.

All game sevens will now be played on the Bucks home court as they now have the best record in the league this season.

Antetokounmpo explained the importance of having home court advantage in every series they play this postseason.

He said, “We worked extremely hard for 82 games to get the No. 1 seed.

“It's an advantage to play Game 7 at home. Last year we played Game 7 in Boston. 

"Maybe if we had played at home, it would have been a totally different series. Maybe we would have went to the Finals.”

Giannis Antetokounmpo on 2nd Championship 

In addition to pursuing a realistic goal of winning a championship each year until his retirement in 2033, Antetokounmpo aspires to capture a second championship.

In 2021, he led the Bucks to their first championship since 1971, fifty years later.

After a taste of victory leading the Bucks to victory against the Phoenix Suns, Antetokounmpo who recently disclosed he almost retired in 2020 now wants a second championship.

“I want every year until I retire in 2033 — 10 years from now - I want to have a realistic goal to win a championship.”

Giannis Antetokounmpo on winning a 3rd MVP award explains Bucks championship aspirations

Giannis Antetokounmpo almost called time on his career three years ago.
Giannis Antetokounmpo almost called time on his career three years ago.

The "Greek Freak" closes the season as a candidate for the MVP, and the Bucks will enter as the No. 1 seed for the third time in the past five seasons. 

Despite being one of the three favorites along with Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers and Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets, Antetokounmpo claims that winning the award is not his top priority.

He added,  “It's a thought, obviously/ But it's not the biggest thought. 

"Everyone wants to be awarded for their hard work and for making the team successful. I try not to complain, not to whine. 

"I’m extremely blessed for having two (MVP’s) in my house.

“You see MJ play 15 years, win only five MVP’s. Kareem was so good, only won five MVP’s. 

"LeBron only won four MVP’s. I believe you might be the best every single year and maybe voters get tired of you or take you for granted."

Giannis Antetokounmpo on visiting Nigeria

Giannis also discussed the Charles Antetokounmpo Family Foundation's (CAFF) Poverty Is No Joke campaign.

The Antetokounmpo family established the CAFF as a social impact organization in honor of their late father, Charles.

Following his success on the court, the seven-time All-Star wants to emphasize the value of giving back to the community through the Poverty Is No Joke campaign.

Antetokounmpo claims that even after his death, his foundation will continue to operate. With his social impact foundation, he wants to assist as many people as he can.

He stated that he intends to replicate the initiative in Nigeria hence a potential first visit to be ancestral home.

He added, “I'm happy to have a platform like my father's foundation where we are able to do that.

Nigerian-born Giannis Antetokounmpo keeps his fathers legacy with Poverty Is No Joke.
Nigerian-born Giannis Antetokounmpo keeps his fathers legacy with Poverty Is No Joke.

“I want my family to take advantage of this partnership that allows us to donate,”

“Giving $80,000 worth of product to kids in Milwaukee is a start, it’s a step. 

"Hopefully next year we can do it with kids in Nigeria. 

"And after that we can do that with kids in Greece. That's the goal. We want to give back as much as we can.”

Giannis explained that his father Charles was a professional football player.
Giannis explained that his father Charles was a professional football player.

Giannis Antetokounmpo and playoffs

Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks continue preparation for the playoffs.

They will find out their first-round opponents in the early hours of Saturday, April 15, 2023

Antetkounmpo will lead the Bucks against the winner of the final Eastern Conference play-in game between the Miami Heat that lost their first fixture at home to the Trae Young-led Atalanta Hawks and the Chicago Bulls that recorded a shock win away against the Toronto Raptors.

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