The thing about Giannis Antetokounmpo is that when he talks, the NBA listens, even if it’s in the middle of a game. Tuesday night, NBC cameras caught the two-time MVP screaming something that didn’t sound like your usual post-dunk scream. After a block and a dunk against the Knicks, he turned to the crowd and shouted words that reflected louder than the final score: “THIS IS MY CITY!” The Bucks went on to win 121-111, but the message stayed longer than that.

When asked afterward what exactly he said, Giannis smiled. “ I love when it’s tough. I thrive when it’s tough. When you make it tough, I thrive,” he clarified. Whether that was a statement to Madison Square Garden or a declaration to the rest of the league depends on who you ask. And people are asking, because the timing could

See Full Page