Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
AT THE PODIUM — The Milwaukee Bucks earned the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference this season and seemed poised for a deep playoff run, just two years removed from their most recent NBA championship.
The Miami Heat had other ideas, however, and bounced the Bucks and perennial MVP candidate Giannis Antetokounmpo in five games for a surprising first-round departure.
After the series-clinching game on Wednesday, Bucks beat reporter Eric Nehm asked Antetokounmpo if he "views this season as a failure."
The Greek superstar took a second to gather himself, clearly disturbed by the question, then gave a nearly two-minute response that has resonated with sports fans around the globe.
"Do you get a promotion every year at your job?" Antetokounmpo asked Nehm. "No, right? So every year you work is a failure? No. Every year you work toward something, toward a goal. It's not failure, it's steps to success.
"Michael Jordan played 15 years (and) won six championships. The other nine years were a failure? It's the wrong question. There's no failure in sports."
🏀👏 Not football related: but this is a great answer from Giannis Antetokounmpo in regards to perspective in sport. pic.twitter.com/crC6KrVOFa
— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) April 27, 2023
