Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks. (Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)
Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo explains why he has exited the last two first quarters of the 2021 NBA Finals very early.
When the face of the Milwaukee Bucks franchise Giannis Antetokounmpo exits the first quarter early in the last two NBA Finals games, it is a pretty big deal and everybody wants to know the reason for it.
With him suffering a scary knee injury in the Eastern Conference Finals vs. the Atlanta Hawks previously, any time Antetokounmpo heads to the locker room at all has everyone’s attention. Fortunately, he told us the reason behind his early first-quarter exits the last two games. “I went to take a tinkle and came back.” He was polite about it, but his response was still a hilarious one.
If this is what it takes for the Bucks to win in six, then Antetokounmpo must keep the streak alive.
Giannis Antetokounmpo hilariously explains his early first-quarter exits
With the best-of-seven series all tied up at two games apiece, Milwaukee has to steal at least one game on the road in order to become NBA champions for the first time since 1974. Game 5 will be in Phoenix on Saturday night. The Phoenix Suns will not want to drop three games in a row to Milwaukee with the Bucks having a chance to capture the Larry O’Brien Trophy at home in Game 6.
Ultimately, the Bucks have the best player in this series in the two-time NBA MVP. While his health was up in the air entering the NBA Finals, Antetokounmpo has the potential to do something only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Oscar Robertson have done before him: Bring an NBA championship to Milwaukee. The Bucks are two wins away from accomplishing that feat.
Antetokounmpo’s early-game tinkle strategy throws a wrinkle into Mike Budenholzer’s rotation.