Giannis Antetokounmpo has reached the peaks of the NBA on numerous occasions. With an NBA title, two MVP trophies, a Finals MVP, and a Defensive Player of the Year award, the "Greek Freak" has already compiled a robust collection of accomplishments in his 11-year career that some might say he might be having a hard time finding motivation in the last few seasons.
However, that isn't the case heading to the 2024-25 season as a rejuvenated Giannis is primed to recapture NBA glory for the Milwaukee Bucks once again, thanks to his experiences under the head coach of Greece's men's national basketball team, Vassilis Spanoulis.
The fire has been lit
Spanoulis is a certified legend in European basketball. While not many may know him in the United States, the 2006 edition of Team USA certainly remembers when the 6-foot-4 guard scorched them for 22 points in Greece's 101-95 upset win over the Americans in the semifinals. Transitioning to coaching after retiring from playing in 2021, Giannis credits "Kill Bill" for lighting a fire from under him this past summer.
"Spanoulis has changed the way I think about things. My approach to the game. My love for the game. Sometimes, I think, you're in your comfort zone. A lot of people are in a comfort zone without even wanting to be there. You have to push. You have to demand from yourself, from the people around you. And he did that," Giannis said in a talk with Sam Amick of The Athletic.
According to the eight-time All-NBA Team member, his coach wouldn't let him rest on any of his laurels, even if he had just given his all. Case in point was Greece's loss to Canada in July. While nobody would ever fault Giannis' efforts after putting up 34 points, Spanoulis pointed a finger at the Bucks superstar and his lackluster defense as a reason for their defeat.
"I literally (left) my heart on the floor, and my kidney and my knee and everything on the floor, but he came to me and said, 'Your defense wasn't good enough.' The next day, he's saying, 'I didn't see the fire in your eyes. Your defense wasn't good enough,'" Giannis added.
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Spanoulis knows there are other levels Giannis can get to
Like squeezing the last ounce of juice from a fruit, Spanoulis believes that Giannis still has so much more to give. Last season, the 6-foot-11 forward finished fourth in the MVP race and was named to the All-Star and All-NBA Team. Nevertheless, Vassilis didn't give his star any reason to let up on his drive to become better.
"Every day, it was something else. He would just push me and push me and push me and push me, (saying) 'You've got more to give. Come on. When I was 29, I was the best in Europe. I had back-to-back (championships). What are you doing?'" Giannis said.
Though his time with the national team has ended, Giannis said he still remembers his interactions with Spanoulis, and these are spurring him to give more.
"All this conversation made me realize that I crave the challenge again. Of course, it pisses you off, but it puts you in the mood where you're like, 'Wait, I'm going to show you.' You don't want to let (Spanoulis) down. Like (with the Bucks), I don't want to let Doc Rivers down. I don't want to let Dame down. I don't want to let my team down," Antetokounmpo added.
While the motivation is there for Giannis, one main challenge for him is health, as he has played in only three of the Bucks' last 11 playoff games due to injuries. In fact, Antetokounmpo didn't play a single second in Milwaukee's six-game loss in the first round to the Indiana Pacers because of a calf injury. The organization can only hope the same won't be the case in the 2024-25 campaign.
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