There’s no denying that sports media has changed dramatically over the past 5-10 years. Team and player coverage is different, and talk shows focused on the performance of athletes top the television ratings. We’re living in a time where being a superstar in the NBA is unlike any other era. Social media and the evolution of media coverage have taken over. You know who’s not having it? Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo isn’t having it.
NBA Media Receives Comical Taunting from Bucks Superstar
Milwaukee Bucks Superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo Shares His Dislike of Bi-Polar Media Takes
The NFL media was forced into defensive mode this week when New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rogers put their credibility and integrity under the magnifying glass. The Super Bowl champion called out talk shows and their talking heads for what he perceived as unqualified NFL coverage. His comments drew quite a ruckus. Over in another professional sports world, the NBA was similarly taunted by Giannis, although more humorously.
Giannis appeared on his brother’s podcast, The Thanalysis Show, this week, hosted by Thanasis Antetokounmpo, who last played for the Bucks last season. The two brothers discussed the media and reporting within the NBA and their experiences dealing with it, more so in Giannis’s case. Suffice it to say, he put it right on the money.
“Today it’s like ‘Vegas baby the Bucks are going to Vegas! Blank check, wow!’ And the day you lose? It’s ‘They suck! Get them out of here! Trade Giannis, he has blood on his hands and nobody wants him and he can’t shoot!’ Guys, yesterday I was the best player in the world.”
To Giannis’s credit, this follows a common theme of much of the NBA media we watch and listen to today. One day, they praise a team or specific player. The next day, the storyline reads something entirely different, wiping away what was said the previous day. There’s truth in Giannis’s claim.
Bi-Polar Media Syndrome Comes with the Privilege of Being an NBA Superstar
Giannis is not shy about voicing his displeasure with the pressures of being a superstar in this league. Take into consideration his famous rant at the podium just two years ago following the Bucks’ early playoff exit regarding failure. You’ll remember that his comments did not go over well with most of the famous media and analyst personalities. Giannis has had other contentious interactions with the media and reporters that have tested his patience.
This comes with the territory of being a player of Gianni’s status. He’s a global superstar with a name you cannot forget. With him comes a game that will one day be legendary and hall-of-fame-worthy. With the praise and admiration comes the critique and ire from the same sources, faces, and names the NBA media has to offer. Is he right in his comments regarding the hot take and reaction take persona the media carries? Of course, he is. That said, he shouldn’t be surprised, and it would be best for him to leave his frustrations in the dust.
Giannis could lead the Bucks to the NBA Finals this season, win it, and start next season off by going 2-8 in their first ten games (sound familiar?). Subsequently, the media would forget about his second championship and focus on the slow start. The point is, this is life in the NBA—life for an NBA superstar. One minute, they’re reigning down praise, and the next, they’re questioning your future with the team. One thing is for certain: in Giannis’s case, he’s already a legend. No matter what the media says, that feat can’t be taken from him.
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