Giannis Explains Motivation, Work Ethic: 'Feel Like I'm the Worst Player in the NBA'

Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo isn't concerned if he's being overlooked in the NBA MVP race.

In fact, he has a mindset that has him focus on continuing to put in the work.

"I feel like I'm the worst player in the NBA. I'll be honest with you. I feel like in a moment this can be taken away from me," Antetokounmpo told Sam Amick of The Athletic in reference to how he prepares himself.

Antetokounmpo is, of course, much closer to being the NBA's best player than its worst. He's averaging 30.8 points, 11.2 rebounds and 6.4 assists per game and has ramped up his offensive aggressiveness in the month of March.

The 29-year-old has finished in the top four of MVP voting each of the last five seasons, finishing behind only Nikola Jokić and Joel Embiid each of the last two years.

"I'm never going to make myself look like I'm crying for a trophy," Antetokounmpo said. "One thing I'm never going to do is, I'm never going to fall into the bubble, (and) I believe this is a bubble. This is a matrix."

Playoff success has not followed since Milwaukee's 2021 NBA championship, with the Bucks being eliminated in the conference semifinals in 2022 and upset in Round 1 by the Miami Heat last season.

Hoping to turn that around, the Bucks have shuffled through three coaches in less than a calendar year. Mike Budenholzer was fired after Milwaukee's collapse last April and then his replacement, Adrian Griffin, got the axe in favor of Doc Rivers in January.

The chaos has not helped boost Antetokounmpo's MVP case, nor has Damian Lillard's inconsistent play since the blockbuster trade that sent him to Milwaukee. It may take another Finals MVP before Antetokounmpo lands a coveted third regular-season award.