New York – San Antonio, Dallas – Minnesota, Boston – Philadelphia, Golden State – LA Lakers and Phoenix – Denver. Here are the posters for the five traditional Christmas meetings, scheduled by the NBA this season.
No Milwaukee then, Giannis Antetokounmpo and his teammates not being invited to the festivities…
“I'm a little angry or I'm wondering anyway” explains the “Greek Freak”who had participated in the Christmas games for the last six years. “I think there is probably an algorithm that determines which teams are the most attractive, the ones that generate the most attention and therefore should play at Christmas. »
The algorithm's fault?
Recent winners of the NBA Cup, the Bucks are in the Top 5 in the East (15 wins – 12 losses) despite a terrible start to the campaign, with a better record than the SixersTHE Wolves or the Spurs.
“There must be an algorithm because, if it’s a popularity contest, I can give facts” continues Giannis Antetokounmpo. “You want some?” Two of the All-Star Game starters, Dame (Lillard) and Giannis, and the All-Star Game MVP. The one who garnered the most fan votes, not just in the East but across the entire NBA. And we're not on the Christmas games? What ? That too is a fact…”
In defense of the Great League, when the calendar was made, during the offseason, the Bucks were coming out of a failed campaign, with elimination in the first round of the playoffs.
“We are not allowed to play Christmas. For what ? Because we are a small market? Maybe. But I want to believe what I said: I think there is an algorithm in the NBA offices that chooses which teams can generate the most attention, which teams can have the best ratings on Christmas. »
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2013-14 | MIL | 77 | 25 | 41.4 | 34.7 | 68.3 | 1.0 | 3.4 | 4.4 | 1.9 | 2.2 | 0.8 | 1.6 | 0.8 | 6.8 |
| 2014-15 | MIL | 81 | 31 | 49.1 | 15.9 | 74.1 | 1.2 | 5.5 | 6.7 | 2.6 | 3.1 | 0.9 | 2.1 | 1.0 | 12.7 |
| 2015-16 | MIL | 80 | 35 | 50.6 | 25.7 | 72.4 | 1.4 | 6.2 | 7.7 | 4.3 | 3.2 | 1.2 | 2.6 | 1.4 | 16.9 |
| 2016-17 | MIL | 80 | 36 | 52.1 | 27.2 | 77.0 | 1.8 | 7.0 | 8.8 | 5.4 | 3.1 | 1.6 | 2.9 | 1.9 | 22.9 |
| 2017-18 | MIL | 75 | 37 | 52.9 | 30.7 | 76.0 | 2.1 | 8.0 | 10.0 | 4.8 | 3.1 | 1.5 | 3.0 | 1.4 | 26.9 |
| 2018-19 ★ | MIL | 72 | 33 | 57.8 | 25.6 | 72.9 | 2.2 | 10.3 | 12.5 | 5.9 | 3.2 | 1.3 | 3.7 | 1.5 | 27.7 |
| 2019-20 ★ | MIL | 63 | 30 | 55.3 | 30.4 | 63.3 | 2.2 | 11.4 | 13.6 | 5.6 | 3.1 | 1.0 | 3.7 | 1.0 | 29.5 |
| 2020-21 | MIL | 61 | 33 | 56.9 | 30.3 | 68.5 | 1.6 | 9.4 | 11.0 | 5.9 | 2.8 | 1.2 | 3.4 | 1.2 | 28.1 |
| 2021-22 | MIL | 67 | 33 | 55.3 | 29.3 | 72.2 | 2.0 | 9.6 | 11.6 | 5.8 | 3.2 | 1.1 | 3.3 | 1.4 | 29.9 |
| 2022-23 | MIL | 63 | 32 | 55.3 | 27.5 | 64.5 | 2.2 | 9.6 | 11.8 | 5.7 | 3.1 | 0.8 | 3.9 | 0.8 | 31.1 |
| 2023-24 | MIL | 73 | 35 | 61.1 | 27.4 | 65.7 | 2.7 | 8.8 | 11.5 | 6.5 | 2.9 | 1.2 | 3.4 | 1.1 | 30.4 |
| 2024-25 | MIL | 24 | 35 | 61.3 | 22.2 | 61.4 | 2.0 | 9.6 | 11.6 | 6.0 | 2.3 | 0.7 | 3.4 | 1.5 | 32.7 |
| Total | 816 | 33 | 54.8 | 28.6 | 69.8 | 1.8 | 8.0 | 9.8 | 4.9 | 3.0 | 1.1 | 3.0 | 1.3 | 23.6 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
