Bucks Zone

Giannis Antetokounmpo shows unwavering trust in his teammates with game-winning assist to Grayson Allen

Giannis Antetokounmpo trusted his teammate to make the shot with the game on the line.
Matthew Dugandzic|
Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports

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Milwaukee BucksToronto Raptors

The NBA is a league filled with alpha males who would always rather go down shooting. Throughout history, lots of legends have made names for themselves with last-second shots and late-game heroics. Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Damian Lillard, and countless others have cemented their place in the Hall of Fame with last-second shots that have won games. What we saw on Wednesday night, however, was something entirely different.

In a tight game against the Toronto Raptors, Giannis Antetokounmpo stepped up to the plate with the game tied at 101 in overtime. Instead of shooting the ball himself, Giannis trusted his teammate Grayson Allen and delivered a game-winning assist to him. The decision didn’t just win the game for the Milwaukee Bucks; it also showcased an unwavering trust in his teammates that is rarely seen among leaders of the pack in the NBA.

Mixed bag

As regular seasons go, the matchup versus the Raptors was a mixed bag for the Greek Freak. Playing in the second game of a back-to-back, Antetokounmpo showed he had plenty left in the tank, registering a massive triple-double of 30 points, 21 rebounds, and 10 assists.

The two-time MVP, though, was not without flaws. He also had 12 turnovers in a game that should not have gone to overtime. After all, the Bucks led by 21 points, 90-69, with just three minutes left in regulation.

Snatched the win away from the jaws of defeat

Antetokounmpo had the ball as time was running out in overtime. Finding a hole in the Raptors' defense, Giannis drove down the middle and pulled in three Toronto players before kicking the ball out to a wide-open Allen in the corner. The often-controversial wingman casually drained the game-winning three-pointer with 10 ticks left in the game.

“Falling down, like three people on him, so it was a pretty amazing pass to make that accurately,” Allen said. “It was right in the shooting pocket, so it made it an easy shot for me.”

The play was remarkable in many ways. It was the perfect example of trust and confidence. Antetokounmpo could have easily gone for the glory himself and taken the last-second shot. Instead, he trusted his teammate, and it paid off handsomely for the Bucks.

“He was wide open,” Antetokounmpo shared after the game. “I drove the ball, I saw VanVleet coming in from the corner and I was able to deliver the ball to Grayson and he caught it clean and I knew we had a chance when he caught it clean and shot the ball.”

At the end of the day, it was Antetokounmpo's trust in his teammate that enabled the Bucks to come away with a hard-fought victory against a tough opponent. It was one play that will both be remembered and celebrated by Milwaukee fans for a long time.

Published
Matthew Dugandzic
MATTHEW DUGANDZIC

Matthew finished his bachelor's degree in Economics (Management) at the University of Split and got his master's degree in the same field at the University of Zadar. Whether it is playing the game as an undersized 6'3'' power forward or simply watching it, Matthew can't get enough of it. After all, he has been an avid NBA fan since the 2000s. But don't get him wrong, as Matthew still loves the old-school NBA and is a true student of the game. From on-court moments to off-court stuff, whether it's about the stars of modern-day basketball or legends of the game, Matthew covers every category of the NBA world and basketball in general, as long as it makes for an engaging and exciting story.