Former ESPN and FS1 host Skip Bayless is not thrilled by the Milwaukee Bucks’ victory in the 2024 Emirates NBA Cup. The Bucks, led by Giannis Antetokounmpo, won MVP after defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder 97-81. In a post on his X account, Bayless made a bold prediction regarding the future of the Bucks and the Thunder.
The Bucks, who had a rough start to the season, have made a huge turnaround with their NBA Cup victory. They are now in fifth place in the Eastern Conference rankings after winning 10 of their past 12 games. However, Bayless believes the NBA Cup victory does not directly translate to post-season success. As such, he backed the OKC to focus on the rest of the season.
The Thunder will go farther this season than the Bucks.
Skip Bayless via X
Following the Oklahoma City Thunder’s heartbreaking loss to the Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA Cup final, Skip Bayless issued a warning to the rest of the league. Even though he has always supported the Oklahoma Sooners, Bayless has said he admires the Thunder. As such, he thinks this defeat will spur them to victory.
The Thunder will go farther this season than the Bucks.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) December 18, 2024
The Thunder’s poor shooting performance, which included only 33.7% from the field and 15.6% from three-point range, was a major factor in their defeat. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 21 points on 8 of 24 shots, which was a poor performance. With a 20-5 record, the Thunder are still leading the Western Conference in spite of the defeat. After all, the season is a long and wide.
Despite Skip Bayless’ warning, Giannis Antetokounmpo focused on future
A stunning performance of 26 points, 19 rebounds, and 10 assists from Giannis Antetokounmpo helped his team win the NBA Cup. Antetokounmpo gave his team high marks for their defensive play, which was evident in their Las Vegas championship victory. The Bucks’ triumph demonstrated their tenacity, especially after a difficult start to the season.
Witnessing the Bucks’ championship victory, Damian Lillard praised the team’s cohesiveness and unity. Lillard pointed out that despite early season criticism, the Bucks have united to disprove their critics. In line with Lillard, Antetokounmpo emphasized the value of cooperation and trust in reaching their championship objective.
While celebrating their NBA Cup victory, Antetokounmpo was already planning for the remainder of the season. His declaration, “Job is not done, we have a lot of basketball in front of us,” was a direct message to his teammates and the league. The Bucks have momentum after winning the championship, and Antetokounmpo is committed to helping his club reach new heights.
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