Giannis says he is “locked in” as Bucks slump and reports swirl

Giannis Antetokounmpo said Thursday helium is “locked in” connected getting steadfast arsenic questions swirl astir his future.

He says helium cannot power extracurricular conversations

Antetokounmpo, sidelined since Dec. 3, said helium cannot power the talk. “If my cause is talking to the Bucks astir it, he's his ain person. He tin person immoderate speech helium wants,” Antetokounmpo told reporters earlier Thursday's crippled against the Toronto Raptors.

He stressed helium has not personally taken the contented to the franchise. “At the extremity of the day, I personally person not had the speech with the Bucks. I'm inactive locked in, locked successful connected my teammates, astir importantly locked successful connected maine getting backmost healthy.”

Milwaukee is 11th astatine 11-16, and helium called reports a distraction. “It doesn't impact my work,” Antetokounmpo said. “It doesn't impact my narration with my teammates, it doesn't impact my narration with my coach. It doesn't impact my narration with the GM. So, it doesn't truly fuss maine due to the fact that they cognize what I'm astir ... close now, we cannot beryllium worrying astir what the [reports] are.

“Talking astir [reports] and headlines, but astatine the extremity of the time we're warring for our lives. We've got to triumph a game.”

He urges urgency portion helium rehabs

Antetokounmpo said helium has not addressed the team, nevertheless helium has answered questions from teammates. “I've had the speech with the manager astir it. I've had conversations with idiosyncratic players astir it. I've been approached by teammates who asked maine astir the [reports] due to the fact that it mightiness impact their ain beingness and their ain vocation and I'm consecutive with them immoderate that reply whitethorn be.”

He besides admitted helium believes helium rushed backmost from a November groin injury, and that determination helped pb to the calf issue. “As a person of this team, erstwhile we are competing you consciousness similar if you're not retired determination to assistance your squad you're not giving your squad the champion chance,” helium said. “You benignant of consciousness similar it's your fault. And alternatively of taking the due clip you benignant of get backmost and unreserved things.”