Tuesday 19th March 2024,
The Hoop Doctors

Giannis Antetokounmpo ‘Uncomfortable’ with Jason Kidd’s Comments After Bucks Fired Him

Giannis Antetokounmpo

Giannis Antetokounmpo is not really okay with Jason Kidd publicizing the intimate conversation they had once he was fired by the Milwaukee Bucks.

As a refresher, shortly after the decision was made, Kidd told ESPN.com’s Ramona Shelburne that Antetokounmpo offered to try saving his job:

Though Kidd rebuffed Antetokounmpo’s overtures, his decision to divulge the contents of their conversation felt weird from the jump. Not only did it imply that the 23-year-old and the Bucks’ front office weren’t seeing eye-to-eye, but the sentiments Antetokounmpo expressed were just plain personal. Unless Kidd received permission to let the world know, his decision to reveal what they shared was tactless.

And, well, it doesn’t seem like Kidd had permission to channel his inner-most chatterbox.

From Matt Velazquez of the Journal Sentinel:

Giannis Antetokounmpo didn’t want to discuss his conversation with Jason Kidd on Monday, saying he wanted to keep private conversations private. Added that he felt “uncomfortable” that parts of that conversation were made public.

Just add this to list of things making Antetokounmpo uncomfortable right now, because Kidd’s firing in itself still doesn’t sit right with him either. As he told reporters on Wednesday (via ESPN):
It’s kind of uncomfortable, especially for a guy like me that is — as I said, one of my characteristics is that I’m being loyal to the people around me,” Antetokounmpo told reporters. “That’s one of my characteristics, but it’s kind of uncomfortable knowing before it happened.”
The only real victim in this situation is Antetokounmpo. Yes, Kidd is out of a job. But both he and the Bucks franchise could have handled the entire situation way better. The Bucks weren’t necessarily wrong for apprising Antetokounmpo of their decision before executing it, but giving him enough time to speak with Kidd beforehand, or even making the decision without consulting him first, isn’t the smartest practice.
And Kidd is more guilty than anyone. He knew what he was doing when he spoke after the fact. Ostensibly throwing Antetokounmpo under the bus while trying to stick it to the Bucks on his way out doesn’t bode well for his chances of finding another prominent gig in the near future.

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