There will be no Milwaukee Bucks on Christmas Day and Giannis Antetokounmpo is not happy about it.
Christmas Day games are testament to teams and players’ popularity in the NBA and when it comes to that, Antetokounmpo knows they meet the requirements.
Talking to The Athletic’s Eric Nehm, the Greek Freak went off on how they are omitted from the special day despite the numbers.
There’s gotta be an algorithm because if it’s — how can I say — like a popularity contest, I can give you facts. You want me to? Two of the NBA All-Star starters, Dame (Lillard) and Giannis, and the All-Star MVP, right? And the No. 1 vote-getter — not in the East, in the whole NBA — is not in the Christmas game? What? No, it’s a fact. The votes came out last year. I was the No. 1. Dame was a starter. I was a starter. Dame won the MVP. Dame won the 3-point contest. Maybe that has nothing to do with it.
One easy explanation for their lack of schedule could be their playoff performances in the past two seasons wherein they failed to go past the first round.
It did not help, too, that they had a terrible start to the season although they have recovered now, moving above .500.
Giannis Antetokounmpo’s theory on why they have no Christmas game
NBA Communications just released their list of 10 most watched players and Antetokounmpo placed sixth.
If there are ten teams playing on Christmas Day, why is he not playing?
Giannis has a theory.
“I believe we were one of the best teams in the East last year. Maybe not this year, OK. We don’t get a Christmas game. Why? Because we got a small market? Maybe that’s the case. Or I want to believe what I tell you, I think there’s an algorithm within the NBA that they choose which team will get the most attention, the most viewership that day.”
Although frustrated, Antetokounmpo eventually accepted the snub. He said can now rest on December 25th and will “get to spend the day with my kids and open presents.’”
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