Giannis Antetokounmpo Expresses Disappointment for Not Playing On Christmas Day

Giannis expressed great disappointment over the NBA’s decision not to schedule the Bucks on Christmas Day

Giannis Antetokounmpo has expressed great disappointment over what he believes is an attempt by the NBA to simply exclude him and the Milwaukee Bucks from playing on Christmas day.

While talking to The Athletic’s Eric Nehm, Giannis expressed great disappointment in the organization’s decision and questioned the league’s choices.

“There’s gotta be an algorithm because if it’s — how can I say — like a popularity contest, I can give you facts. You want me to? Two of the NBA All-Star starters, Dame [Lillard] and Giannis, and the All-Star MVP, right? And the No. 1 vote-getter — not in the East, in the whole NBA — is not in the Christmas game? What? No, it’s a fact,” he told Nehm.

“The votes came out last year. I was the No. 1. Dame was a starter. I was a starter. Dame won the MVP. Dame won the 3-point contest. Maybe that has nothing to do with it. I believe we were one of the best teams in the East last year. Maybe not this year, OK.

“We don’t get a Christmas game. Why? Because we got a small market? Maybe that’s the case,” Giannis questioned the NBA’s decision.

“Or I want to believe what I tell you. I think there’s an algorithm within the NBA that they choose which team will get the most attention, the most viewership that day.”

Christmas Schedule

On Christmas Day, the teams that are scheduled to play are the Spurs, Knicks, the Timberwolves, the Mavericks, the 76ers, the Celtics, the Lakers, the Warriors, the Nuggets, and the Suns.

Here is how they are scheduled:

• Spurs vs Knicks
• Timberwolves vs Mavericks
• 76ers vs Celtics
• Lakers vs Warriors
• Nuggets vs Suns

Milwaukee Bucks, which Giannis plays for and are fifth position in the Eastern conference, is not among the teams scheduled to play on that particular day.

The Bucks will play their game against the Chicago Bulls which are in position nine in the Eastern conference tomorrow Dec. 24, a day to Christmas Day.

Giannis, a Greek with Nigerian origin is considered one of the greatest power forwards in the history of the NBA.

He was selected number 15 overall by the Bucks in 2013 and has been a core part of the team ever since.

In the 2017-2017 season, Giannis who has received eight all star selections led the Milwaukee Bucks in all five major statistical categories and became the first player in NBA history to finish a regular season in the top 20 in all five statistics.