Giannis Antetokounmpo during the heated exchange with NBA reporter.

Giannis Antetokounmpo during the heated exchange with an NBA reporter. Photo: NBAE/Getty Images.

VIDEO: NBA star BLASTS reporter in heated exchange

The Greek Freak hits out at journalist for asking whether he would label Bucks’ NBA season as a failure.

Giannis Antetokounmpo during the heated exchange with NBA reporter.

Giannis Antetokounmpo during the heated exchange with an NBA reporter. Photo: NBAE/Getty Images.

Giannis Antetokounmpo hit out at a journalist after being asked in a press conference whether he would label Milwaukee Bucks’ NBA season as a failure.

The Bucks finished top in the Eastern Conference of the NBA with a 58-24 record, but they were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs at the hands of the Jimmy Butler-inspired Miami Heat.

WHAT LED TO NBA STAR’S VERBAL EXPLOSION?

Antetokounmpo hit out at reporter Eric Nehm for a narrow-focused question, angling for a binary answer as to whether Milwaukee’s season was a ‘failure’ due to the shock exit of the East’s No. 1 seed. 

Nehm, who covers the NBA for The Athletic asked Antetokounmpo; ‘Do you view this season as a failure?’ during the postgame presser and the Greek Freak gave an impassioned, exasperated two-minute response, which has gone viral on social media.

“You asked me the same question last year, Eric,” Giannis said during a mandatory NBA press conference.

“Okay. Do you get a promotion every year? On your job, no right, so every year you work is a failure? Yes or no? No. Every year you work, you work towards something. Towards a goal, right?

“Which is to get a promotion, to be able to take care of your family… It’s not a failure, it’s steps to success… Michael Jordan played 15 years, won six championships, the other nine years, was it failure?”

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The Greek star was confident that his team will bounce back next year and compete for the NBA title again, stressing that these are not failures but “steps towards success.”

“You know, I’m sorry,” Giannis, who is one of the biggest stars in the NBA, added. “I didn’t mean to make it personal with you. You asked me the same thing last year and last year I wasn’t in the right mindset to answer you.”

It was just the sixth time in NBA playoff history, that the eighth seed of a conference (Miami) managed to eliminate the top seed (Milwaukee). It had not happened since 2012, when the Philadelphia 76ers knocked out the Chicago Bulls.

WATCH GIANNIS GO OFF AGAINST REPORTER

HERE’S THE BUCKS’ FULL POST-GAME PRESSER

NBA STAR GIANNIS ANTETOKOUNMPO PLAYING FOR THE BUCKS

NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo in action.
NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo in action. Photo: Getty Images.