The Giannis Antetokounmpo era in Milwaukee ended in embarrassing fashion
Good morning, Winners! This is For The Win’s daily newsletter, The Morning Win. Did a friend recommend or forward this to you? If so, subscribe here. Here’s Mike Sykes.
Giannis Antetokounmpo hasn't said anything about his future yet, but Game 5 against Indiana is probably the last time we'll ever see him in a Milwaukee Bucks uniform. The writing is on the wall, folks.
Things were already likely heading this way before the Bucks blew a seven-point lead with about half a minute left in overtime to get knocked out of the playoffs. Now? It feels all but certain.
Despite Antetokounmpo being unequivocally one of the three best players in the NBA, there aren't many avenues available for the Bucks to turn that team into a competitor. That would still have been the case with Damian Lillard healthy. With him likely missing the entire season next year? There's no shot. Even with Giannis, there's a strong chance the Bucks wouldn't even make the playoffs in 2026.
The front office has no assets to work with between the picks it gave up in the first Jrue Holiday trade and then the Lillard trade a few years later. This team doesn't control its own first-round picks for the next six years. The cupboard is bare. Its second-best star is injured. The core group of players' best days are behind them.
To put it simply: The Bucks are venison. They're cooked. It's over.
NO RESPECT: Tyrese Haliburton's dad was talking smack to Antetokounmpo after the game
If you told me that we'd be here four years ago after Milwaukee had just won its first (and only?) championship with Antetokounmpo? I would've called you crazy. Now, like everyone else, I'm just preparing for the inevitable news of a trade request.
Given the history on how stars usually leave teams, if this is the end for Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee, I guess this wouldn't be the worst ending.
I mean, sure, blowing a 7-point lead doesn't feel great. But at least he's not sitting on the bench in a "That's all, Folks!" shirt like Anthony Davis in 2019. Or at least he didn't storm off the court and snatch his own jersey off like LeBron James in 2009.
If this was it for Giannis, he went out balling. He's averaged 30.4 points, 15.0 rebounds and 6.4 assists in his last 10 playoff games for Milwaukee. The Bucks only have one win in those games.
That's not good enough. And that's why he's probably gone.
Tom Thibodeau probably just lost his job
Watch this entire video of the last couple of minutes of Game 5 between the Pistons and the Knicks and tell me if you notice anything strange.
I'll tell you what's strange — Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart aren't on the court for most of this stretch. Hart and Brunson were both checked out of the game with just under three minutes left due to injuries. And, to be fair, they both looked like fairly serious injuries. Both wound up being OK to play and were able to return to the game.
The problem is they didn't return until 27 seconds were left on the clock. Thibodeau didn't want to use his final timeout to check them back into the game and he also didn't want to foul and put Detroit at the free throw line. So New York played the final three minutes of the game without two of its five best players on the court and, obviously, the Knicks lost.
New York will probably win this series. But, even if the Knicks advance, it's hard to have confidence in Thibodeau moving forward. If they lose? Whew, boy. We'll look back on this moment as the turning point.
The best catch ever?
OK. This probably isn't the best catch ever. But how on earth does Daulton Varsho pull this off???? I'm so confused.
A backhand grab for the out. I guess that's why he's a Gold Glove winner. Sheesh, man.
Quick hits: A Way-Too-Early NFL big board ... Caitlin Clark for MVP? ... and more
— Here's Christian D'Andrea with a way-too-early NFL draft big board for 2026.
— Caitlin Clark is the most popular bet for WNBA MVP ahead of the season. Again. Meg Hall has more.
— Luka Doncic covered the cost of restoring a vandalized Kobe Bryant mural. What a guy. Here's Bryan Kalbrosky with more.
— 100 men vs. 1 gorilla, FTW edition.
— Here's Bryan again on why so few players are declaring for the NBA draft this year.
— Thunderbolts* seems great! Caroline Darney has details.
That's a wrap, folks. Peace.
-Sykes ✌️