Leading 118-111 in overtime of Game 5, Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks were 40 seconds away from keeping their season alive.
Then disaster struck.
Two Gary Trent Jr. turnovers led to a clutch 8-0 Indiana run and that was it: Milwaukee got bounced out in the first round of the playoffs for the third straight year.
Antetokounmpo left it out on the floor, stuffing the stat sheet behind a monster 30-point, 20-rebound, 13-assist triple-double in 44 minutes.
But it wasn’t enough.
Since winning the title in 2021, the Bucks managed to win just one playoff series. Another early postseason exit raises more questions than answers regarding Antetokounmpo’s future in Milwaukee.
For now, the two-time MVP declined to speak on the subject matter.
“I'm not going to do this. Whatever I say, I know how it's going to translate. I wish I was still playing. I wish I was still competing and going back out there,” Antetokounmpo responded when asked his thoughts on if he could win a second NBA title in Milwaukee.
The nine-time All-Star also insisted he needs to find ways to improve his play despite averaging 33.4 points, 15.4 rebounds, and 6.6 assists in the five-game series.
“I just have to be better ... as a team we work hard. We play the right way. Not being able to win games definitely hurts, but you gotta keep doing what you're doing," the former Finals MVP said.
What hurts more than the loss — as far as Antetokounmpo is concerned — is that Milwaukee couldn't win the game for teammate Damian Lillard.
Dame suffered a season-ending torn left Achilles in Game 4 after making his return from a deep vein thrombosis in his right calf.
[ALSO READ: Bucks’ Damian Lillard suffers season-ending torn Achilles injury]
"I felt like we owed this game to Dame. That's what I felt. I felt like he came back maybe earlier than what he's supposed to, went down, sacrificed his body for us,” the Greek Freak revealed.
“I felt like as a team -- the least we can do is show up and win the game. For Dame. Obviously it hurts that we didn't win the game, but it hurts more that we wasn't able to win the game for Dame," he added.
"Obviously it hurts that we didn't win the game, but it hurts more that we wasn't able to win the game for Dame" 🙏
— NBA TV (@NBATV) April 30, 2025
Giannis spoke on wanting to win Game 5 for Lillard, who suffered a season-ending torn achilles in Game 4
The 30-year-old superstar was also involved in a heated post-game confrontation with John Haliburton, the father of Pacers superstar Tyrese Haliburton.
Both individuals had to be separated, and Antetokounmpo addressed the incident in the post-game press conference but chose not to dwell on the specifics.
"Nothing. This is the last I’ll say — I won’t talk much. We lost the game. It doesn’t matter," Giannis commented.
But the 2021 champion added: "The one thing I’ll say is, I believe in being humble in victory. That’s the way I am. There’s a lot of people who think when you win, it’s a green light to be disrespectful. I disagree.”
Giannis believes in being humble in victory.
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) April 30, 2025
