11h49 CEST
04/04/2025
Giannis Antetokounmpo became the first player in NBA history to record 35 points, 17 rebounds and 20 assists as he helped the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Philadelphia 76ers 126-113 on Thursday.
The win has the Bucks fifth in the East with a 42-34 record while, in registering his historic triple-double, Antetokounmpo also became only the third player this season to score 30 points and have 20 assists in a game alongside Nikola Jokic and Trae Young.
While being understandably pleased with his achievement after the game, Antetokounmpo suggested that he was more concerned with the overall team effort and that he was simply doing his job.
"When you're the primary ball handler, you just gotta keep on making good decisions for the team. I feel like most of the time, I try to make the best decision for myself or for my teammates," he said, as reported by ESPN.
Bucks coach Doc Rivers was taken ill in the first half, meaning that he had to watch the remainder of the game from the locker room. Assistant Darvin Ham took over courtside and was clear that Antetokounmpo needs to be more of a distributor in the absence of Damien Lillard.
"Giannis has to think more like a point forward. He's already built like that. So, it's not too much of a challenge for him," said Ham.
"It's just now, you know, him understanding the organisation, making sure we're in the right spots, making sure our timing is on point and the ball is moving when it's supposed to move on time or target."
ONE OF ONE. pic.twitter.com/iS9LAumegw
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) April 4, 2025
Antetokounmpo's team-mates, meanwhile, were more forthcoming with praise for him after his achievement.
"This just being another one of those crazy, seems-almost-normal-which-is-ridiculous type of statistical nights, just speaks volumes to the type of player he is," said Pat Connaughton, as quoted in The Athletic.
"Who he is to this team, who he is to the city of Milwaukee and who he is to the NBA.
"There’s only a select few in the history of the NBA that can do something and make it look like it was done so easily and continue to consistently do things to that level. It’s an all-time performance. It's an all-time player.”
Bucks guard Ryan Rollins agreed with Connaughton, highlighting Antetokounmpo's impressive on-court vision.
"It's crazy. We preach that. Stay in your spots. Keep the floor spaced for him because he makes the pass. He just might make it at the weirdest time you might think," he said.