The Bucks’ season came to a stunning end Wednesday night when the No. 1 seed in the East was beaten at home by the No. 8 Heat in an OT thriller, giving Miami a 4–1 series win and a date with the Knicks in the second round of the playoffs.
Miluwakee entered the playoffs as the favorites to win the NBA title. Instead, they are now just the sixth No. 1 seed since 1984 to lose their opening-round series.
After the game, Giannis Antetokounmpo was asked if he thought this season was a failure. He shared some very passionate thoughts about that:
“Michael Jordan played 15 years, won 6 championships. The other 9 years were a failure?"
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) April 27, 2023
-Giannis' passionate response to if he considers the Bucks' season a failure pic.twitter.com/G5VtwnGXYq
Shaquille O’Neal disagreed with the Bucks star and explained why:
"He's not a failure of a player, but is it a failure of a season? I would say yes."
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) April 27, 2023
-Shaq on Giannis and the Bucks falling in the first round to the Heat pic.twitter.com/XKRt2GNfmv
Some NBA fans agreed with Shaq:
I agree with Shaq. You play pro sports to compete for championships. If you don’t everything else is a fail. https://t.co/nIkKarKTqz
— Brian Dominguez (@BD23s_) April 27, 2023
He ain't lying https://t.co/97kAfhzPvB
— SEAN✨⭐ (@Easymoney_200) April 27, 2023
I appreciate Giannis’ perspective but I have to side with Shaq on this one. https://t.co/OKYcuIvbrj
— Tobi Altizer (@Tobi_Altizer) April 27, 2023
Shaq spittin https://t.co/Oae1iFRcJQ
— Jason Patt (@Bulls_Jay) April 27, 2023