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Giannis Antetokounmpo Sits With Fans Following Ejection

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Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo did not return to the Bucks bench or locker room after being ejected against the Pistons. Instead, Giannis briefly sat amongst fans in the courtside seats while gesturing at the refs to continue the game. Eventually, Giannis was compelled to leave for the locker room after the refs threatened more reprimands against him.

Giannis’ protest was a result of his ejection being fairly controversial. Giannis picked up his second technical after staring down the Pistons’ Isaiah Stewart after throwing down a dunk over him. The refs didn’t like this and whistled Giannis for his second tech of the game. A disbelieving Giannis tried to reason with the refs but the whistle had already been blown and the officiating team wanted Giannis out of the game. Giannis had 15 points and 9 rebounds at the time of his ejection. Furthermore, the Bucks held on for a 120-118 win.

Read More: Rockets Blow Out Lakers After LeBron James And Dillon Brooks Speak On Beef

How Is The Giannis-Dame Experiment Going?

The win over the Pistons puts the Bucks at 5-2 on the season and riding a three-game win streak. As for how the team is adjusting to the superstar tandem of Giannis and Damian Lillard, things couldn’t be going better. Just 0.1 ppg separates the two players’ scoring output, meaning that combined they average 48.7 points per game. Meanwhile, they have settled into their separate niches. Giannis is the rebounding, leading the team with nine boards a game. Meanwhile, Lillard is the playmaker, leading the team with 4.7 assists per game.

However, the Bucks are now very dependent on their tandem. Losing Jrue Holiday cost the Bucks a lot of defense, which can be seen in how their biggest margin of victory this season so far is just eight points. Meanwhile, when they lose – they lose hard. Their two losses this season have been 17- and 19-point blowouts to the Knicks and Raptors. Furthermore, their win over the Pistons came despite a major Pistons comeback attempt after Giannis was knocked out of the game. It remains to be seen if the powerhouse can continue powering for the entirety of the season.

Read More: Terry Stotts, Damian Lillard’s Former Head Coach, Resigns As Bucks Assistant

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Damian Lillard & Giannis Antetokounmpo Begin Bucks Partnership With Win

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Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo combined for 62 points as the Bucks opened their NBA campaign with a 118-117 win over Philadelphia. Giannis added 13 rebounds while Lillard added eight of his own. However, the Dame-Giannis tandem was really the only thing the Bucks had going for them on opening night. Only two other Bucks, Brook Lopez and Bobby Portis, reached double-digit points. However, the game showed the potency of what the newly formed partnership could achieve.

Meanwhile, the Sixers will be kicking themselves not to come away with a win. Four players surpassed 20 points, with Tyrese Maxey leading the team with 31. Reigning MVP Joel Embiid added 24, while Tobias Harris put up 20. The Sixers also got 27 from Kelly Oubre Jr., who played 32 minutes off the bench. However, the game was overshadowed by the absence of James Harden. Earlier in the day, it had been reported that Harden had tried to board the team flight to Milwaukee on Wednesday afternoon. It’s another kick in the teeth to team harmony, especially with the news that the Clippers will no longer pursue a trade for Harden.

Read More: Victor Wembanyama Impresses In NBA Debut

Dame & Giannis Shine But Concerns Remain

There is a lot to say about the debut of the Dame-Giannis tandem. The pair put up 62 points. However, did the Bucks sell the farm for the sake of a new tractor? New head coach Adrian Griffin played a short bench despite struggles across the board beyond the superstar tandem. Khris Middleton had six points in 19 minutes as he rehabs from injury. Malik Beasley had 5 points and 4 defensive rebounds in 31 minutes.

Next up for Milwaukee is Atlanta, a playoff hopeful who dropped their season opener to Charlotte. Meanwhile, the Sixers are headed to Toronto to face the rebuilding Raptors. It will serve as a rematch for new head coach Nick Nurse, who was fired by Toronto during the offseason. Hopefully, they can find a win before they return to Philly for their home opener against Portland, and a reunion with the waiting Harden.

Read More: Rich Paul Claims He Would Be One Of The Best Shooters In The NBA, Compares Himself To Steph Curry

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James Harden Returns To Sixers Practice

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James Harden has reportedly returned to Sixers practice after missing several days last week. The news was first reported by Adrian Wojnarowski at ESPN. The Sixers fly to Milwaukee later today ahead of their season opener tomorrow. It’s unclear if Harden will be included on the team sheet for that game. Harden missed practices throughout the back end of last week, with the team reporting that no reason had been given for the absence. However, by the end of the week, the team had stated that Harden was away attending to a personal matter.

The missing of practice is something that experts have been surprised hasn’t happened sooner with Harden. The veteran has something of a reputation for being disruptive during offseason activities when he is trying to force a trade. However, it is believed that rumors of renewed discussions between the Sixers and Clippers compelled Harden to put in a few weeks of good behavior.

Read More: Ime Udoka Says Fred VanVleet Was A “Better Fit” Than James Harden For Rockets

Harden’s Status For Opener Unclear

As mentioned, the Sixers start their season in Milwaukee tomorrow, a daunting prospect now that Damian Lillard is on the team. However, it’s unclear what Harden’s role in that game will be. For the Sixers, it’s a choice between whether they want to play hardball. Either they can play him and seemingly acquiesce to his behavior. Or they can ground him and intentionally weaken their already shaky lineup.

As for Harden, he has made it very clear that his relationship with the team front office is beyond repair. “This is not even about this situation — this is in life. When you lose trust in someone, it’s like a marriage … you lose trust in someone, you know what I mean? It’s pretty simple. When I got traded here, my whole thing is I wanted to retire a Sixer. I wanted to be here and retire a Sixer. And the front office didn’t have that in their future plans,” Harden said last week while pointedly refusing to explicitly name President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey.

Read More: Michael Rubin Says James Harden Saga Wouldn’t Have Happened If He Was Still Sixers Owner

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Terry Stotts, Damian Lillard’s Former Head Coach, Resigns As Bucks Assistant

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Terry Stotts, who worked with Damian Lillard as the Trail Blazers head coach for nine years, has resigned as an assistant for the Milwaukee Bucks. Stotts joined the coaching staff assembled by new Bucks coach Adrian Griffin earlier this year. Furthermore, it was Stotts’ first coaching role since parting ways with the Blazers in 2021. However, he announced his decision to leave Milwaukee before the season began. No reason has been given for Stotts’ departure, nor is it clear whether Griffin will seek a replacement.

Additionally, the move comes just a few weeks after Stotts was reunited with Lillard, by far the best player on the team during his Blazers tenure. The Bucks acquired Lillard from the Blazers in the biggest trade of the offseason, working with the Phoenix Suns in a three-team deal to land Giannis’ new tandem partner. Stotts and Lillard won 402 games together and made eight playoff appearances. However, it’s unknown if Lillard’s presence in Milwaukee contributed in any way to Stotts’ departure.

Read More: Damian Lillard Reveals Blazers Made Him Fake Injury For Better Draft Pick

Giannis And Lillard Mixed In First Outings

Bucks fans got their first look at the Giannis-Lillard pairing earlier this week as the tandem made their debut against the Lakers in a preseason matchup. They combined for 30 points and 10 rebounds with Giannis playing 15 minutes and Lillard playing 22. Their second outing against the Thunder wasn’t as magical. Lillard was held to 5 points in 25 minutes, including a dismal 0-5 mark from three. Giannis fared better, putting up a double-double (18 points, 10 rebounds) in 25 minutes. So far, the pair have gone 1-1 in the preseason, with a game against the Grizzlies on Friday.

Hopefully, all the kinks will be worked out before the Bucks open the regular season against the Sixers next week. On paper, the tandem should be perfect. Giannis at least has absolutely no concerns about an offensive “competition” according to comments he made over the weekend. “We’re going to let Dame be Dame. There won’t be any competition. He will have the ball more,” Giannis said from the Bucks training camp earlier this month.

Read More: Giannis Antetokounmpo Excited For Damian Lillard Tandem, Sad To Lose Jrue Holiday

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Giannis Antetokounmpo & Damian Lillard Will Have No Problem Sharing The Ball, Bucks Star Claims

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One of the questions that was raised when Damian Lillard was traded to the Bucks was how he would fit into an offense that already boasted Giannis Antetokounmpo. Well Giannis at least has absolutely no concerns about an offensive “competition” according to comments he made over the weekend. “We’re going to let Dame be Dame. There won’t be any competition. He will have the ball more,” Giannis said from the Bucks training camp.

In theory, this should be one of the most dominant pairings in NBA history. Both are elite players in their own right. However, they have also have skill sets that complement the other. Lillard will stretch the floor unlike any teammate Giannis has had in Milwaukee. Meanwhile, Giannis will pressure the interior unlike any teammate Lillard ever had in Portland. Providing they both stay healthy, this is an S-tier tandem and the rest of the league should be very scared. And that’s before it became very clear that Giannis is happy to cede his traditional role to Lillard for the sake of team balance.

Read More: Damian Lillard Files For Divorce From Wife Kay’La

Giannis Excited For Lillard, Sad To Lose Holiday

Giannis broke his silence on the trade a couple days after it happened at the end of last month. For the Greek-born star, it’s a bittersweet acquisition. “Jrue [Holiday] is my fucking brother for life. I love his family, I love him. I appreciate him and I wish him nothing but the best. He blessed me with a fucking championship. He’s the one who made that huge steal in Game 5 of the Finals. I went to battle with him multiple times. Fuck basketball. Fuck the media shit. This guy is my brother for life, and it’s always going to be like that. He’s going to thrive wherever he ends up,” Giannis told Bleacher Report.

However, that isn’t to say that he isn’t excited to play with Dame. “Now at the same time, I’m excited to have Dame. He gives us a chance to win a championship. I’m excited to play with the caliber of player that he is. He can score the ball in his sleep and shoot the lights out. It’s a bittersweet day for the city of Milwaukee. You get Dame, who is a great player, but you lose a great guy. Jrue took us to the promised land. I’m 10 years in now. I know it’s a business. At the end of the day, Jrue will alway be be my brother for life. He’s one of the best human beings I’ve been around. But we’ve got to focus on the goal to win the championship. Dame wants this. He’s hungry to win, and he’s going to push us. I’m very happy to have him on our team.” That appears to have only grown over the course of training camp.

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Damian Lillard “Excited” By Bucks Trade

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Damian Lillard has addressed the news that he was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks earlier today. “The casuals won’t be addressed but the trailblazers fans and city of Portland that I love truly will be and they will be addressed truthfully. Stay tuned. Excited for my next chapter! @Bucks🎟,” Lillard wrote on X, formerly Twitter. The replies were full of well-wishers as the Blazer faithful were sad, yet accepting, of their superstar’s departure. Lillard has been a Blazer since they drafted him in 2012.

After months of speculation, Lillard was traded to the Bucks as part of a three-team trade that also included the Phoenix Suns. The Bucks get Lillard while the Suns get Jusuf Nurkić, Nassir Little, Keon Johnson, and Grayson Allen. Meanwhile, the Blazers get Deandre Ayton, Toumani Camara, Jrue Holiday, a first-round pick in 2029 and the right to swap first-rounders in 2028 and 2030. All three picks come from the Bucks.

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Giannis Finally Gets His Superstar

If there’s a winner in this trade, it’s Giannis Antetokounmpo. Milwaukee’s star has been vocal in recent weeks about the need for the franchise to surround him with talent. Now he has a co-star who was top five in points per game last season and top ten in assists per game. Meanwhile, the Blazers could continue to recoup assets to build themselves into a contender. Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reported that they are already making calls to flip Jrue Holiday as they are committed to their core of young guards.

Furthermore, the Bucks immediately solidify their championship aspirations. With a healthy Giannis, Khris Middleton, and Lillard, they are far and away the best team in the East. It’s a perfect situation for first head coach Adrian Griffin. Sadly, this means that barring a historic collapse or miracle season, the window has likely closed for the Miami Heat. Lillard was their missing puzzle piece. Now not only do they have to play without him, but they will have to regularly play against him.

Read More: Golden State Warriors “Close” To Adding Bay Area WNBA Team

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Damian Lillard Traded To The Milwaukee Bucks: Details

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After months of rumors and uncertainty, the Damian Lillard saga is finally at an end, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN has reported that Lillard is headed to the Milwaukee Bucks as part of a three-team trade that also includes the Phoenix Suns. The Bucks get Lillard while the Suns get Jusuf Nurkić, Nassir Little, Keon Johnson, and Grayson Allen. Meanwhile, the Blazers get Deandre Ayton, Toumani Camara, Jrue Holiday, a first-round pick in 2029 and the right to swap first-rounders in 2028 and 2030. All three picks come from the Bucks.

The trade, of course, completely leaves out Miami. The Heat had been the only team Lillard had originally been interested in joining. However, Miami was never able to offer a package that satisfied the Blazers. Instead, Giannis gets a new superstar teammate while the Blazers get a rookie starter in Scoot Henderson and a star center in Ayton. Furthermore, Woj also reported that the Blazers are looking to immediately move Holiday as they are “committed to its young group of talented guards”.

Read More: Golden State Warriors “Close” To Adding Bay Area WNBA Team

Giannis Wins The Damian Lillard Trade

If there’s a winner in this trade, it’s Giannis. Milwaukee’s star has been vocal in recent weeks about the need for the franchise to surround him with talent. Now he has a co-star who was top five in points per game last season and top ten in assists per game. Meanwhile, the Blazers could continue to recoup assets to build themselves into a contender. As mentioned, they are already looking to flip Jrue Holiday and build around their young core.

Furthermore, the Bucks immediately solidify their championship aspirations. With a healthy Giannis, Khris Middleton, and Lillard, they are far and away the best team in the East. Sadly, this means that barring a historic collapse or miracle season, the window has likely closed for the Miami Heat. Lillard was their missing puzzle piece. Now not only do they have to play without him, they will have to regularly play against him.

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Milwaukee Bucks Reportedly Planning To Hire Raptors Assistant

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After their shocking first-round playoff exit, the Milwaukee Bucks parted ways with head coach Mike Budenholzer. Budenholzer led the Bucks to 58 wins and the Eastern Conference’s first seed. However, the team struggled against the Miami Heat, losing in five games. The Bucks became just the sixth one-seed to lose in the first round of the NBA playoffs. In five years as the Bucks’ head coach, Budenholzer went 271-120 in the regular season and won the NBA Championship in 2021.

The Bucks joined the Suns and Sixers as contenders looking for a new coach. All three teams had deep and wide-ranging candidate pools. Notably, the Bucks became the first team to be publicly linked to a college candidate. Houston Cougars coach Kelvin Sampson met with the Bucks last week. However, the team now reportedly has settled on a head coach.

Bucks Eye Raptors Assistant

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA – AUGUST 12: Assistant coach Adrian Griffin of the Toronto Raptors reacts during first-half action against the Philadelphia 76ers after head coach Nick Nurse stepped down for the night to let Griffin coach at The Field House at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 12, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Ashley Landis-Pool/Getty Images)

According to ESPN‘s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Milwaukee Bucks’ next head coach will be Adrian Griffin. Griffin went undrafted out of Seton Hall in 1996 but found his way to the NBA in 1999 after three years split across the USBL and CBA. The small forward and shooting guard spent just under a decade in the NBA with the Celtics, Mavericks, Rockets, Bulls, and Supersonics.

After retiring in 2008, Griffin joined the coaching staff of the Bucks before moving to the Bulls in 2010. He spent five years in Chicago before spending a season in Orlando and two in OKC. However, he has been with Toronto since 2018, helping Nick Nurse win an NBA title in 2019. Milwaukee will be his first official head coaching position. He is set to take over a team that has the talent to win another NBA title, but has consistently fallen short in recent years. What do you think about the hire? Let us know in the comments.

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Milwaukee Bucks Interview Houston Cougars Coach

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In one of the more surprising offseason moves, the Milwaukee Bucks fired Mike Budenholzer following their first-round playoff exit. Budenholzer had been leading the Bucks since 2018, winning an NBA title in 2021. However, with a second-round exit in 2022 and a first-round exit this year, the team felt it was time for a reset.

The Bucks are one of several title contender teams who parted ways with their head coach. The Sixers parted ways with Doc Rivers earlier this week. Meanwhile, the rebuilding Raptors, Rockets, and Pistons are also hunting for a new coach. While there is a large shared pool of candidates, the Bucks have become the first team to, publicly, turn their attention to the talent at the NCAA level.

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – MARCH 24: Head coach Kelvin Sampson of the Houston Cougars speaks to players in a huddle during the second half against the Miami Hurricanes in the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at T-Mobile Center on March 24, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Kelvin Sampson is a veteran coach. Beginning this career as a graduate assistant at Michigan State in 1979, he has held head coaching positions at Montana Tech, Washington State, Oklahoma, and Indiana. Furthermore, he spent six years as an NBA assistant, splitting his time equally between the Bucks and Rockets. However, he returned to the NCAA circuit in 2014 to take the head coaching position with the Houston Cougars. He has since turned Houston into an AAC powerhouse, reaching the Final Four in 2021. Houston was a National Champion favorite in 2023 until a shock loss to Miami in the Sweet Sixteen.

Overall, Sampson is 232-74 in his time at Houston and 731-345 at the college level. However, not only is Sampson an experienced coach, but he also has that valuable experience working within NBA organizations. Little information has been revealed about the Bucks’ coaching search, other than a long list of names. Despite the level of competition for the job, Sampson’s experience and pre-existing relationship with the Bucks’ front office could see him rise to the top. the current pool of candidates for Milwaukee is primarily comprised of long-time assistant coaches from around the NBA. What do you think about Kelvin Sampson as the Bucks coach? Let us know in the comments. Be sure to follow along with the NBA offseason here at HotNewHipHop.

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Milwaukee Bucks Fire Head Coach Mike Budenholzer

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In a shocking move, the Milwaukee Bucks fired head coach Mike Budenholzer after the team crashed out of the NBA playoffs. Budenholzer had served as the head coach in Milwaukee since 2018 after leaving the Atlanta Hawks. Budenholzer’s NBA coaching career began in 1996 as an assistant with the San Antonio Spurs.

Budenholzer led the Bucks to 58 wins and the Eastern Conference’s first seed. However, the team struggled against the Miami Heat, losing in five games. The Bucks became just the sixth one-seed to lose in the first round of the NBA playoffs. In five years as the Bucks’ head coach, Budenholzer went 271-120 in the regular season and won the NBA Championship in 2021.

Bucks Look To Reset After Playoff Loss

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – APRIL 19: Head coach Mike Budenholzer of the Milwaukee Bucks reacts after a call during the second half of Game Two of the Eastern Conference First Round Playoffs against the Miami Heat at Fiserv Forum on April 19, 2023 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)

“The decision to make this change was very difficult. Bud helped lead our team for five incredible seasons, to the Bucks’ first title in 50 years, and into an era of sustained success. We are grateful for the culture of winning and leadership that Bud helped create in Milwaukee. This is an opportunity for us to refocus and reenergize our efforts as we continue building toward our next championship season.” Bucks GM Jon Horst said in a statement. Budenholzer was widely criticized for his time management in Game 5 of the first round of the playoffs. His decision to not take a timeout as time expired meant the game-tying shot was unable to be made.

However, Budenholzer’s firing is the latest in a fascinating trend for NBA coaches. The Bucks become the third championship winner since 2019 to fire their head coach this season. The Raptors recently parted ways with Nick Nurse after their Play-In exit. Meanwhile, the Lakers fired Frank Vogel after the 2021-22 season. In an era of unprecedented player talent, the expectations of success are even higher. No candidates have been linked to the opening as of yet.

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