In 3 Minutes, NBA Star Giannis Antetokounmpo Gave A Masterclass On Success

After a devastating loss to the 8th-seeded Miami Heat, we can all learn from his passionate response.

These NBA playoffs have been exciting, and it’s only the first round. One of the major upsets, however, has been the 1st-place Milwaukee Bucks losing to the 8th-seeded Miami Heat.

The Heat had to play two additional games even to make it to the playoffs. Then after star player (and potential MVP candidate), Giannis Antetokounmpo went down with an injury in Game 1, the Heat took advantage.

Although he returned in Game 4, it was not enough.

Fourth-quarter collapses in Games 4 and 5 sealed their fate, to the shock of most NBA pundits.

On the court, Giannis is about his business. Off the court, he’s known to be goofy, funny, charitable, and family oriented (who else can get their brothers in the league?).

But don’t let his sometimes child-like antics fool you. Beneath that jovial exterior is a cerebral, measured man.

For example, after winning the NBA title in 2021, he showed?his knowledge of Stoicism?and love for?

Ryan Holiday

’s books, staying even-keeled when they won.That knowledge came again in the post-game interview after Game 5. A reporter asked him if he “viewed this season as a failure.” He was clearly incensed by the question, as this same reporter asked him the same question when they lost the Eastern Conference Finals last year.

He composed himself and gave what can be described not only as a masterclass in sport but in life as well:

“You asked me the same question last year, Eric. Do you get a promotion every year?” No. You don’t, right? So every year you don’t, it’s a failure?”

“Every year you work, you work toward something.”

He went on to compare it to the reporter working towards providing for his family.

“It’s not failure. There are steps to success,” Giannis told the reporter.

“Michael Jordan played 15 years, won six championships. The other nine years were a failure? That’s what you’re telling me?”

“It’s the wrong question. There’s no failure in sports. There are good days, bad days, disappointments. Some days you are able to be successful; some days, you are not.”

He goes on, “Some days, it’s your turn. Some days it’s not your turn. And that’s what sports is about…”

Here are some things you can take away from this short clip.

You can do everything right… and still lose

To be the number one seed and have the best record in the NBA requires skill, commitment, teamwork, and a little bit of luck at times.

They’ve had arguably the best player this year in Giannis, and three of the best defensive players in the NBA. They came up short.

In 2016, the Golden State Warriors went 73–9 in the regular season, a milestone achieved only a few times in the NBA’s 70+ year history. They still lost the NBA Championship to LeBron James and the Cleaveland Cavaliers.

You can do everything right and still not “win” in the eyes of those outside looking in. Yet, if you go into any endeavor thinking you’ll lose, then why try? At the same time, you have to understand that winning and losing are two sides of the same coin.

But nobody remembers the losses

To circle back to his Michael Jordan reference, nobody calls MJ a “9-Time Loser.”

He’s a 6-Time Champion.

But to reach there, he had to go through years of getting his ass beat by the Pistons. He learned, got better, and then handled his business.

We remember them now, but when you do reach the promised land, those years of losses go away.

I have no doubt Giannis will become a champion again because, if anything, he understands that to be great, it’s a marathon, not a sprint.

You can’t skip steps

Since LeBron, Wade, and Bosh teamed up in 2010, most teams have been trying to emulate the success of the “Heatles” by teaming up multiple superstars in an attempt to win a title.

While there has been some success, a la Kevin Durant to the Warriors, it’s been an absolute failure for many others (a la Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving to the Nets).

Teams forget that there are levels to success, and you can’t skip steps. Buying your way past those steps won’t always work.

Giannis is playing a 10–15 year game, not year-to-year. He understands that there are levels to this game.

Every loss is a lesson

Giannis insists in the interview that they will “learn, come back better, and hopefully win a title.”

Giannis is a notoriously bad free-throw shooter. He overcame those demons to win a title, but it came back to haunt him in this game, as he missed 13.

It got in his head, and he made a costly turnover in an attempt to avoid taking more free throws.

There’s no doubt that he’ll go back to the drawing board and find ways to be better.

He takes every loss as a lesson.

Be humble in your wins and losses

It’s easy to talk when you’re winning.

You want to show it off, post it on Instagram, and get all the accolades.

When you’re losing, it’s easy to shut down, be angry, snarky, and a sore loser.

In true Giannis fashion, he was disappointed, and upset, but still humble in defeat. He was still respectful to the reporter and complimentary to the work of the Heat, particularly Jimmy Butler (HIMmy Butler!)

This clip will likely make the rounds in the media and be dissected in the coming days, as he’s a true class act.

Closing thoughts

You and I may be going through some L’s right now. But we have to remember there are steps to success. There are levels to what we’re trying to achieve.

How can we get better?

What can we learn from the rut that we’re in right now?

Is it a sprint, or a marathon?

If your goals are important to you, don’t give up, and don’t skip steps. You’ll see success, just as much as you’ll encounter losses and setbacks.

Just take a page out of Giannis’ book. Be humble, learn, and come back better than ever. Remember, as long as you make it to the top, no matter how long it takes, when it’s all said and done, no one will remember your losses.