The 2023 NBA Playoffs Eastern Conference number one seed Milwaukee Bucks lost to the number eight seed Miami Heat 4-1 in the first-round best of seven series on Wed Apr 26. Giannis Antetokounmpo was asked if the 2022-2023 season was a failure? The question was fair. He answered honestly. He didn't raise his voice. He didn't attack the reporter. He responded humility taking the high road. "Michael Jordan played 15 years. Won six championships. The other nine years were a failure? . . . It's a wrong question. There's no failure in sports."
There is a common wisdom: failure is absolute, success is relative. Did Antetokounmpo dodge the failure question? The answer depends on the person's reference point. The answer depends on the person's base case. One perspective is the Bucks failed. The Bucks were eliminated in the first round to the lowest seed. The Bucks were eliminated early by five games in the series. The Bucks won an NBA Championship in 2021. They team should have won another. The odds were in favor. Antetokounmpo was an MVP in 2018-2019.
Another perspective is the Bucks succeeded. The Bucks already won an NBA Championship in 2021. Antetokounmpo was a former MVP. 16 teams play in the NBA Playoffs. The Bucks was one of the 16 teams. One team is a champion. 15 playoff teams are not a champion. The remaining NBA teams didn't reach the playoffs. And Antetokounmpo has a successful NBA career.
Another successful perspective is the Bucks' best regular season record in the NBA 58-24 earning the number one seed. The Bucks did their best. Unfortunately, the timing was bad to play poor basketball. The Heat played the best basketball at the best moment. The games favored the Heat. The Bucks' shots didn't go in the bucket. Injuries factored in the Bucks performance. Antetokounmpo missed two full games. The Bucks couldn't control everything.
Click Giannis Calls Out Reporter In HEATED Response: "There's No Failure In Sports" to watch the failure question interview. Click Giannis AMAZING exchange with Reporter During Postgame Interview to watch the full interview.
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