The Bucks won’t play on Christmas for the first time since 2017 and Giannis reacted to the snub

Giannis Antetokounmpo is now into his true offseason following Greece’s elimination in the Olympic Games, and on Friday he reacted to a report that the Milwaukee Bucks will not play on Christmas Day for the first time since the 2017-18 season.

Antetokounmpo simply posted on multiple social media platforms, “No Christmas game?!” with a laughing while crying emoji.

Milwaukee, which was bounced from the first-round of the playoffs for the second straight year, was reportedly passed over for the San Antonio Spurs (and Victor Wembanyama), Denver, Dallas, Minnesota, Phoenix, Golden State and the Los Angeles Lakers. New York remains a Christmas Day staple, too, appearing for the 56th time.

The Bucks lost 129-122 to the Knicks in a matinee at Madison Square Garden last Dec. 25, dropping the franchise’s all-time Christmas Day record to 5-5. The team did not appear on Christmas Day from 1978-2017.

Milwaukee last hosted a game on the holiday in 2021.

The NBA schedule has not officially been released, but a social media post by The Athletic with potential matchups on the day did not include the Bucks.

The entire schedule, including the re-branded in-season tournament, will likely be unveiled in the next week as Bucks season ticket holders were sent messages that individual game tickets can be purchased on Aug. 16.

Milwaukee Bucks Christmas Day game history

• 1968: Detroit 119, Milwaukee 113
• 1971: Detroit 120, Milwaukee 118
• 1972: Milwaukee 104, Kansas City-Omaha 99
• 1977: Milwaukee 131, Kansas City 122
• 2018: Milwaukee 109, New York 95
• 2019: Philadelphia 121, Milwaukee 109
• 2020: Milwaukee 138, Golden State 99
• 2021: Milwaukee 117, Boston 113
• 2022: Boston 139, Milwaukee 118
• 2023: New York 129, Milwaukee 122