The news of the Bucks wanting to bring back the injured forward came on the heels of Giannis Antetokounmpo’s “I might get traded” comment in The Athletic story on the Bucks’ pressure to win this season.
“If we don’t win this year, would you get fired?” Antetokounmpo was quoted by The Athletic asking his co-worker. “Do you have it in the back of your mind, like, ‘(What) if this year doesn’t go well?’ Yeah, if we don’t win a championship, I might get traded. Yeah, this is the job we live in. This is the world we’re living in. It’s everybody.”
The Athletic described that particular Antetokounmpo’s quote came as heavy and humorous at the same time.
“On a serious note, this is the job,” Antetokounmpo continued. “It’s the profession that we’re in. At any given moment, if you don’t succeed, that might be it for us. It was the same way with the previous coaching staff, and the year before, the players before. … If you don’t do a good enough job, you’re out.”
ESPN is giving the Buck the eighth-best odds to win the championship this year at +1000. They have the fourth-best odds in the Eastern Conference behind the overwhelming favorite, defending champion Boston Celtics (+290), New York Knicks (+700) and Philadelphia 76ers (+825).
A big part of the Bucks’ championship calculus is the health of three-time NBA All-Star forward Khris Middleton. He was the Bucks’ second-best player when they won the championship in 2021. But he hasn’t been healthy over the last two seasons.
Middleton is still recovering from his injuries on both ankles, which forced him to miss the entire preseason.
According to The Athletic’s Eric Nehm, Bucks coach Doc Rivers told reporters that Middleton was only limited to skill development work at practice.
His chances to play in the season opener against the 76ers on October 23 hinges on clearing contact drills that will culminate on 5-on-5 play.
“I’m really not concerned,” Rivers said, per Nehm. “It’s a long season. Do I think he’ll play in Game 1? I’m hoping. Still pretty positive there. If he doesn’t, does it ruin my year? No. I think he’ll be healthy soon and we’ll have him a lot, so I’m not that concerned about it.”
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