For the first time in four seasons, Giannis Antetokounmpo was not selected for the All-Defensive First Team. He was not happy about the snub.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is undoubtedly one of the best defensive players in the NBA. He was the 2020 Defensive Player of the Year. He’s made All-Defensive First Team the last four years in a row, along with an All-Defensive Second Team selection in 2017. He played the third-most minutes on the Bucks this season and the team finished as a top-five defense.
But, somehow, Giannis was left off the All-Defensive First and Second Teams this season. His teammates, Brook Lopez and Jrue Holiday, both made the First Team, along with Alex Caruso, Evan Mobley and Jaren Jackson Jr., this season’s Defensive Player of the Year. The Second Team selections included Bam Adebayo, Draymond Green, OG Anunoby, Derrick White and Dillon Brooks.
Soon after the selections were announced, Giannis tweeted what appeared to be an ominous warning for the rest of the league.
The Bucks may need Giannis Antetokounmpo to carry a larger defensive load next season
The Bucks are in for some serious changes this offseason after a disappointing loss to the Miami Heat in the first round. Head coach Mike Budenholzer has already been fired. Khris Middleton has a player option and may be looking for a new home and a new, longer-term contract. Key rotation players like Lopez, Jae Crowder, Joe Ingles and Wes Matthews are all unrestricted free agents.
Giannis may be interested in re-entering the postseason award conversation next year but it could be a challenge. If Lopez and Middleton are both gone, he’ll be shouldering a lot more defensive responsibility, not to mention figuring out how to keep the halfcourt offense from collapsing again in the playoffs. Still, if you’re a betting person, maybe keep an eye on the futures odds for next season’s NBA Awards and see if you can find some value on the “disrespected” Giannis.
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