Damian Lillard has lauded Giannis Antetokounmpo’s leadership as a key factor in the Milwaukee Bucks’ resurgence, ahead of their NBA Cup semi-final clash against the Atlanta Hawks. The Bucks, who faced a rocky start to the 2024-25 season with just two wins in their first ten games, have since made a remarkable turnaround. They have won 11 of their next 14 games, including five consecutive victories in the NBA Cup, putting them in their second consecutive semi-final.
Lillard, who joined the Bucks in a high-profile offseason move, emphasized how crucial Antetokounmpo’s mindset was during the team’s early struggles. According to Lillard, despite the disappointing start to the season, Giannis was never discouraged or overly concerned. His resilience, fight, and leadership kept the team focused. “His mind was never shut off, he was never discouraged, he was never overly concerned,” Lillard explained. “There was always fight. Our conversations had always been like: ‘We’re going to turn it around, we’re going to figure it out, we’ve got to lead, we’ve got to keep going, we’ve got to dominate.’ That was the conversation and that’s my spirit, naturally.”
The 2024-25 season’s rough beginning raised doubts about the Bucks' ability to return to the top, but Lillard had no doubt the team would turn things around. He praised Giannis' leadership and his ability to keep the team focused on the bigger picture. “I wasn’t overly concerned,” Lillard added. “I knew that, eventually, it would turn around just based off of that.” Lillard's confidence in the team’s direction stems from the positive mindset and determination shown by the Greek forward.
Giannis Antetokounmpo also reflected on the team’s poor start, acknowledging that it was a wake-up call for the Bucks. He recognized that the team needed to increase their level of urgency in order to win games. “We were playing very, very bad basketball at the beginning of the year, and we just needed to win games,” he admitted. Since then, the Bucks have significantly improved, finding their rhythm and building momentum, which has been evident in their performances during the NBA Cup tournament.
The Bucks now stand as one of the favorites in the semi-finals, with a newfound belief and confidence, thanks in large part to Antetokounmpo’s leadership and Lillard's steadying presence. As the team prepares for their semi-final against the Hawks, both players are focused on building on the positive steps they've taken, knowing that their ultimate goal remains the NBA championship. The Bucks are determined to continue their strong form and capitalize on the progress they’ve made since their early-season struggles.
