NBA Finals MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo is still salty about his 2020 exit from the NBA bubble by the Miami Heat. While Antetokounmpo and his Milwaukee Bucks dealt with the Heat quickly in last season’s playoffs, he still has the blister in his head.
Recently, Antetokounmpo was interviewed by The Athletic’s Eric Nehm this week. In the interview, Antetokounmpo made it clear that he came into 2021 with a chip on his shoulder and lost no love for his South Beach rivals.
“I came in with a chip on my shoulder, I knew what the deal was,” said Giannis. “It was one of my best years of my career, both offensively and defensively… The seventh year ended with Miami. I make no apologies as an athlete, but it wasn’t a satisfying year for me because I felt like if it were a normal situation it wouldn’t end like this. But at the end of the day, I felt like Miami was built as an NBA bubble team.”
Antetokounmpo is right in his opinion and to be clear, that chip on his shoulder earned him a championship. Mentally, The Heat was the better team in 2020. After being swept in the 2021 playoffs, rest assured that the Heat now have the same chip towards Antetokounmpo and the Bucks.