How Giannis, Bucks are channeling Dubs in NBA title pursuit originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
The Warriors and Milwaukee Bucks hold very different seeds in their respective conference standings, but that doesn’t mean Giannis Antetokounmpo and Co. can’t learn something from Golden State.
In a sideline interview with Warriors veteran Draymond Green during the NBA All-Star Game on Sunday, Antetokounmpo explained how he can win his second championship ring with the Bucks.
“We’ve just got to build good habits, man,” Antetokounmpo told Green. “Just like you guys [the Warriors] — you guys have built, for six, seven years, great habits. No matter where you guys are in the rankings, you guys always have an opportunity to win because you build such good habits that it’s hard to break.
“So, that’s what we’re trying to do. We’re trying to build good habits right now, play good basketball, get guys healthy, compete defensively, and maybe that gives us a chance to win a championship.”
The Warriors won the 2022 NBA Finals after many pundits and analysts had counted them out during the second half of the season. They got healthy at the right time and used those good habits Antetokounmpo spoke of — along with plenty of championship experience — to pull off their fourth Finals victory in eight seasons.
Golden State is trying to do the same again this year, though the circumstances are understandably different as the team sits ninth in the Western Conference. In the Eastern Conference, Milwaukee is just a half game back of the first-place Boston Celtics.
But as Green, Steph Curry and Klay Thompson know, building a dynasty isn’t easy. With two-time NBA MVP Antetokounmpo at the helm, however, the Bucks have a good chance at winning their second championship in three seasons.
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And, you never know. Perhaps the Warriors will get back to their winning habits just in time to meet them there.
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