By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
After sitting out eight straight games in the 2025-26 NBA Regular Season with a right calf strain, Giannis Antetokounmpo bounced back, leading the Milwaukee Bucks to a 112-103 victory versus the Chicago Bulls in United Center.
With his side already secured on the winning side of the game on Saturday, the Greek superstar put an exclamation point with a windmill dunk as time ran out. Montenegrin Nikola Vucevic and other Bulls players took exception, but the situation never really escalated.
“We’re not the champs. Why should we like play the clock out, and have respect and fair play? We are fighting for our lives right now. This is real talk. I’ve been 13 years in the league. If we keep on losing, brother, probably half of the team is not going to be here. We’re not going to make the Playoffs,” explained the Freak in a postgame media session.
Beyond Chicago, tension was rising in Smoothie King Center as well, featuring a fist fight between Mark Williams of the Phoenix Suns and Jose Alvarado of the New Orleans Pelicans in the third quarter. Both players were ejected.
“I just want to be available, be healthy, and help my team win. And if that’s what has to happen for everybody to wake up and understand that we are fighting for our lives and we got to get our hands dirty, so be it,” added the Athens native.
“I’m assuming Giannis was mad about that report that came out the Bulls didn’t want to trade for him,” said 35-year-old Vucevic in a sarcastic comment on the late breakaway dunk.
Lacking information on the reaction by the experienced center, Giannis went on to reject any connection to wanting to part ways with the Bucks.
“It’s disrespectful towards myself and my teammates. I wear that jersey every single day. Disrespectful towards the organization, my coaching staff, myself, and all the people who work hard for me, to come out here and say, ‘I don’t want to be here’. Don’t ask me that question,” he stressed.
Lasting 24:42, the Freak put up 29 points behind 10/15 from the field, including one three-pointer. He added eight rebounds, one block, one steal, and one assist.
“I think everything I felt out there is understandable. To be able to feel a little bit rusty? Yes. Not having my wind? Yes. Feeling uncomfortable? Yes. But it doesn’t really matter. When I was available, being able to make plays for my teammates, I did. When I saw the ball going in, it felt good,” he described his return to action.
His brothers went from Thanasis staying on the bench to Alex remaining on assignment with the G League affiliate, Wisconsin Herd.
For the Bulls, Vucevic finished with 16 points, seven rebounds, one block, one steal, and one block. Fellow European starter, Lithuanian Matas Buzelis, tallied eight points, three rebounds, two assists, and one steal. French Noa Essengue (left shoulder surgery) has been ruled out for the rest of the season.
Following the aforementioned ejections in New Orleans, the Suns held on to take down the Pelicans, 123-114. Croatian Karlo Matkovic stayed on the bench for the hosts.