Milwaukee Bucks superstar power forward Giannis Antetokounmpo claimed his first, and so far only, NBA title in 2021. He led his team through a competitive Eastern Conference, eventually defeating the Phoenix Suns in a six-game series to win the championship.
However, his path to glory wasn't without controversy. Fast forward three seasons, and a former Brooklyn Nets player is calling out Giannis for his role in an injury to one of their star players during that playoff run.
Markieff Morris, a journeyman combo forward, blames Antetokounmpo for ending the Nets' championship hopes that year. According to Stefan Bondy of The New York Post, Morris claims Giannis inadvertently caused All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving to sprain his ankle by sliding his foot under Irving's during Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
"If Giannis ain't put his foot under [Irving], [Brooklyn] would've had a championship. Milwaukee would still be without a championship. I know so. They were going to get swept. They know that. You can ask anybody on their team," Morris said. He also mentioned that then-Bucks reserve point guard Jeff Teague shared this sentiment on his own podcast.
The Nets, a No. 2 seed, initially took a 2-0 series lead against the No. 3-seeded Bucks. Their roster, stacked with future Hall of Famers Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden, had the best chance of winning it all, boasting a dynamic offense. But, due to various issues, they fell to the Bucks in seven games.
Milwaukee went on to win its first championship in 50 years, with Antetokounmpo named Finals MVP. All-Star teammates Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton also solidified their legacies during that playoff run.
Meanwhile, Morris, who won a title with the Lakers in 2020, was traded along with Irving to the Dallas Mavericks in the 2022-23 season. Now, both Morris and Irving are back in the NBA Finals, although they trail the Boston Celtics 0-2. It's Morris' first Finals appearance since 2020 and Irving's first since 2017.
Antetokounmpo's Bucks faced their own set of challenges this year. Giannis suffered a soleus strain in his left calf late in the regular season, preventing him from playing in the first-round series against the Indiana Pacers. Additionally, Milwaukee's All-Star point guard Damian Lillard missed a couple of games in the series, leading to the Bucks' unexpected six-game loss to the Pacers.
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