Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo has done it all over his 12 years in the NBA, beginning his career as a role player obsessed with smoothies and later developing into a star and two-time MVP.
So when Antetokounmpo speaks, the youngsters around the league better listen. And the "Greek Freak" dropped some sage advice after practice on Tuesday ahead of the Bucks' first-round series against the Indiana Pacers.
When asked what advice he'd give teammates who are playing in their first carer playoff games—like sixth-year guard Kevin "Scoot" Porter Jr.—Antetokounmpo couldn't help but smile and take a trip down memory lane.
"Don't get too high; don't get too low. Not just for Scoot—for everybody that plays in the playoffs for the first time," Antetokounmpo said. "I remember my first playoffs, I got ejected. My first playoffs, I tackled somebody. So it doesn't get worse than that. Anybody that plays for the first time in the playoffs, just do not tackle somebody."
Giannis' playoff advice?
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) April 15, 2025
Don't get ejected. 😂 pic.twitter.com/KHW4ajLA74
Antetokounmpo did, indeed, get ejected during his first trip to the playoffs.
In the second quarter of Game 6 of a first-round postseason series against the Chicago Bulls, Antetokounmpo tried to give Milwaukee a spark. Down 30 points heading into halftime, a 21-year-old Antetokounmpo flew down the court and tried to block Mike Dunleavy Jr.'s three-pointer. In reality, Antetokounmpo tackled Dunleavy into the front row.
Antetokounmpo was ejected from the game and had to watch the rest of Milwaukee's season-ending 120-66 loss from the locker room.
So, for all the rookies and playoff first-timers out there: Mistakes are fine and will happen. Just don't try to tackle somebody into the concession stand.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Giannis Antetokounmpo Drops Hilarious Advice to NBA Players Competing in First Postseason.
