Bucks star: Kris can still be Freak
MILWAUKEE — Giannis Antetokounmpo leads the NBA in inflicting more pain, humiliation and heartache on the Knicks than any player the last two years. It’s not even close. The Greek Freak’s hit list includes a pair of last second game-winning shots and a highlight reel for the ages: jumping over Tim Hardaway Jr., catching a lob pass and dunking it all in one incredible motion.
“I’m just trying to make plays,” Antetokounmpo says. “Luckily, I’ve made some great plays against the Knicks.”
Unfortunately, Antetokounmpo is also connected to one of the worst moments the Knicks franchise has experienced in the last two decades. Last month, Antetokounmpo was posterized by Kristaps Porzingis but the lasting image is of the Knicks franchise forward falling to the floor at Madison Square Garden, clutching his knee.
Porzingis was helped off the court and escorted into an uncertain future. A week later, Porzingis had surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee and his recovery could take anywhere from 10 to 12 months.
Antetokounmpo made a clean, legitimate play trying to prevent the dunk. No one accused him of making a dirty play and in fact he wasn’t called for a foul. Still, Giannis felt badly about having a fellow All Star lose his entire season for a play he was involved in.
“Of course, not just about Kris Porzingis incident but I feel bad about anyone who gets injured,” Antetokounmpo said. “It’s one of the toughest moments for the athlete. As you know Kris is a really good player, big talent. The league is going to be a lot better when he comes back. Hopefully, he can take his time, recover fully and we’ll all be ready for him and we’ll be really happy when he comes back.”
It was originally believed that Porzingis’ awkward fall was caused by him landing on Antetokounmpo’s foot, but the Greek Freak doesn’t recall it unfolding that way. “I don’t know if he stepped on my foot,” he said. “I think he lost his balance on the earth and didn’t land properly. I don’t think he stepped on my foot.” Milwaukee is on pace to reach the playoffs for the second straight season while Antetokounmpo is enjoying a breakout year. It wasn’t that long ago when comparisons between Antetokounmpo and Porzingis were being made and league executives were debating, if given the choice, which young European forward they would build a team around. That noise has died down with Porzingis now facing a long recovery, Bucks forward Jabari Parker, who has had the same surgery twice, is confident that Porzingis is “going to be back in time to play again next season so that’s a good thing.” However, Parker admitted that after his second knee surgery he didn’t start playing 3-on-3 until 10 months after surgery. Parker is still on a minutes restriction, which is what Porzingis will face once he’s ready to return to live action. With Porzingis working on his comeback, Antetokounmpo has elevated his game to where he is in the MVP conversation. He entered Friday against the Knicks averaging 27.2 points, 10.2 rebounds and 4.8 assists. Still just 23, Antetokounmpo is in his fifth NBA season and should be playing postseason games for the second straight year. “It’s really important,” he said. “My goal is to make the Bucks a championship level team. Playing late into the playoffs helps me as a player and helps us as a team. We have to keep doing that.” ith the Bucks moving into a new arena next season, the Knicks were playing at the Bradley Center for the final time. Their history in the building has included some heartache as well. Nineteen years ago, Bucks center Andrew Lang fouled Patrick Ewing as the Knicks center jumped to catch a lob pass. Ewing landed on his right wrist, shattering the bone in his shooting hand. Ewing missed the remainder of the season and his right wrist was never the same. The prognosis for Porzingis, 22, is far more encouraging. He will eventually be back. The only questions are when and how long will it take him to return to being an All Star…like Antetokounmpo.
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