Even with two MVPs in his trophy case, Giannis Antetokounmpo still calls himself a “low-profile guy.” He says it helps him work in silence, free from the distraction of the spotlight. But when you’re putting up numbers like his (30.6 points per game, the second-best in the season), the spotlight doesn’t exactly have a choice but to shine on you. And those insane assists? He’s dishing them out week in, week out. Yet somehow, the league still doesn’t seem to notice. Giannis may be too humble to point that out, but his head coach, Doc Rivers, isn’t shy about calling it out.
After the Bucks won 126-119 against the Pacers, thanks to Giannis’ near triple-double, 34 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists, the postgame press conference was filled with discussions about him. One of the topics was whether the coach felt that others in the league might be getting tired of giving him awards or recognition because he was consistently performing at a high level. In response, Rivers shared a conversation he had with an unnamed but well-respected NBA coach.
“I was talking to one of the better coaches in the league, and he brought it up. He said, ‘How the hell is no one talking about Giannis?’ Rivers told the media. “And he’s like, ‘He is doing different stuff. His assists have, bro, keep going up, you know? He’s playing better.’ I mean, I don’t know what the guy has to do, but I’m not going to campaign. I’m not going to do that. But he is a forgotten guy with what he’s doing for a basketball team, for sure.” No matter how good the guy has been, the league seems to talk about those who sell.
Oct 23, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers talks with forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) during the third quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
Giannis might be a bit underappreciated, but his numbers (12.1 rebounds and 5.9 assists) speak for themselves. That’s what has landed him in the top 3 of the 2025 MVP ladder. And as Rivers pointed out, Giannis is out here doing a lot for the team. More than what meets the eye. It’s not magic, it’s hard work. When the curtain was pulled, a glimpse of his mindset and what goes down behind the scenes to keep his machine running was revealed.
Giannis Antetokounmpo takes shot at a major concern in the league
Currently, the league has too many issues to deal with, and one of the major concerns is the back-to-back schedules. The Lakers have raised it. The Nuggets have raised it. But that doesn’t seem to faze Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Bucks star brushed off the drama surrounding the packed schedules, saying, “My routine is going to be the same.”
No matter how long others have to wait for him, the 30-year-old will stick to his routine. And by “others,” he also meant his kids. Kids in the car? Media on standby? Giannis isn’t budging. For him, routine comes first, everything else second.
“I don’t care if it’s a back-to-back or three games in a row, because I know that… I’ve lifted weights 66 times more than my opponents. I’ve got 66 times more treatments than my opponent, you know. At the end of the day, everybody plays hard, but you got to know how to recover hard too,” Giannis added.
All Giannis Antetokounmpo emphasizes is his post-game routine — lifting, treatment, cold tub, and meals, because staying healthy is his secret sauce for when his team needs him. That could help him grab another championship trophy, one never knows. And then the league will be bound to throw a parade of praise his way.
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