Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo averaged 24.1 points, 9.9 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game over his first 13 years in the NBA. File Photo by Cristobal Herrera-Ulashkevich/EPA
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo told UPI he is “hopeful” that hard work, belief and discipline can lead to his return to the NBA Finals.
The two-time NBA MVP and 2020-21 NBA Finals MVP plans to follow the 2026 NBA Finals and believes the New York Knicks will beat the San Antonio Spurs in the best-of-seven game series.
But he remains hungry for a second championship and another trip to the league’s grandest stage.
“Just gotta work hard,” Antetokounmpo said Wednesday. “Believe, have a lot of belief. Have a lot of self discipline in my training. And, hopefully I can up there.”
Antetokounmpo, 31, sustained a knee injury in March and appeared in just 36 games this season. He is under contract for $58.4 million in 2026 and has a $62.7 million player option in 2027, which has factored into off-season trade speculation.
The Bucks averaged 47.3 wins per year in the nine 82-game regular seasons they played with Antetokounmpo from 2014-15 through 2023-25. They won just 32 games last season, their fewest since Antetokounmpo’s rookie year, when they were 15-67.
The Bucks lost in the Eastern Conference semifinals the year after they won their title. They were upset in the first round a year later, leading to questions about how Antetokounmpo viewed their progression. He went viral for a quote he issued at the end of that campaign, saying the season was not a failure, but “steps to success.” He also said there was “no failure in sports.”
Antetokounmpo, who cited building better habits, said at the time that he hoped he would lead the Bucks to another title.
On Wednesday, he echoed the sentiment of no failure in sports and said he “refused to be in the bubble” of the public’s perception of failure and success.
“You can’t make decisions based on public perception and opinion about you,” Antetokounmpo said. “People might think that, oh, ‘you failed this year,’ but they don’t realize how much work you put in behind to be in this position.
“Everybody has different definitions of success or no success. So, for some people, it’s winning a championship. For some people, it’s waking up in the morning. For some people, it’s being able to provide for kids. For other people, it’s to be able to provide for the family a better education.
“Sports bring people together. Sports are a place that we can feel something. These kids waking up, before they go to school, they put on a jersey. People play in the NBA Finals, and the kids are excited to watch the game, and people are rooting for us, the game.
“People are rooting for their favorite players. People are excited to open and rip pack and get maybe their favorite player in the pack. Like, at the end, we are all human, and what makes us human is the ability to feel and have emotion.
“If you can be able to make people feel something, for me, even if that’s gonna be sadness or happiness, or whatever the case may be, cheer, or moment of anxiety, man, that’s success.”
Off the court
Outside of basketball, Antetokounmpo is involved in several ventures, including his partnership with Arena Club.
The online marketplace for sports and entertainment cards allows fans to purchase and trade through a digital platform. They also can store the cards within a vault located in Beaverton, Ore., so that they remain safe, but can request to receive them through the mail.
Antetokounmpo said he has communicated with fans to trade cards from his showroom at Arena Club, which was founded by entrepreneur Brian Lee and New York Yankees legend Derek Jeter.
“For me, I’ve always been a collector,” Antetokounmpo said. “It’s something I do as a hobby. So now a lot of people can enjoy it as a hobby, too.”
Jeter, who spoke to UPI on Tuesday, said he also has interacted with people on the platform who are interested in his collection.
“The thing about collecting cards is everyone thinks you’ve gotta chase the Holy Grail, Mickey Mantle, or a card like that. But it’s really meaningful what you like. … It may not be the most valuable card in the world, but there is value from the individual collecting them. That’s what makes the hobby interesting.”
Jeter’s showroom features cards of Shohei Ohtani, Caitlin Clark, Antetokounmpo and himself, among others. Antetokounmpo’s collection includes cards of Shaquille O’Neal, Kevin Garnett, Victor Wembanyama and himself, among other NBA greats.
Jeter was tightlipped when asked about his negotiating tactics when dealing with those eying his showroom.
“I’m not going to tell you what kind of negotiator I am,” Jeter said. “I gotta have the upper hand.”
