Christmas is around the corner, but all is not well in the league. While for some, simple “wishes” are turning into hefty fines, others are upset about not receiving the viewership they believe they deserve. When the NBA announced the most viewed players across NBA social media, Giannis Antetokounmpo ranked 6th on the list. Yet, when it came time to showcase their game, only seven from the list made the cut with the Bucks sidelined. This didn’t sit well with him, and as a result, he blamed Adam Silver’s league.

When the NBA unveiled the Christmas Day schedule, the Bucks were not among the teams selected to play. This led Giannis to question the league’s decision-making process, and now he has finally broken silence. “I’m a little bit upset or kind of questioning it,” the 30-year-old told Eric Nehm of The Athletic. “But I really believe there’s probably an algorithm that takes place within the NBA that shows who is the most attractive team or which team gets the most attention for them to be able to play in the Christmas game.”

Giannis reminded everyone that last year, when the votes were revealed, he was the “No. 1” vote-getter, and both he and Lillard were starters in the All-Star game. Dame Time then went on to win the MVP title in the game, along with the 3-point contest. “Two of the NBA All-Star starters, Dame (Lillard) and Giannis, and the All-Star MVP, right? And the No. 1 vote-getter — not in the East, in the whole NBA — is not in the Christmas game?” He found that quite unbelievable. “Maybe that has nothing to do with it,” he felt. However, his claim didn’t stop there. He then turned his attention to the league officials, pointing the finger at them for the decision.

“I believe we were one of the best teams in the East last year. Maybe not this year, OK. We don’t get a Christmas game. Why? Because we got a small market? Maybe that’s the case. Or I want to believe what I tell you, I think there’s an algorithm within the NBA that they choose which team will get the most attention, the most viewership that day,” the Greek Freak highlighted.

This is not the first time the issue of small market teams being overlooked has been raised. Compared to big market teams like the Lakers, Warriors, Celtics, and others, small market teams are often not considered a priority. Giannis suggested that either this is the reason or the league has some secret algorithm driving these decisions, indirectly blaming Adam Silver and Co.

Even when the league announced the number of games that would be televised nationally this season, the big market teams naturally had an advantage, leaving smaller market teams with no choice but to find out remedies for themselves.

Coming back to Giannis, despite his strong desire for the league to feature their game on Christmas, there’s no certainty that he will be playing in that game. As of now, he won’t be suiting up for the Bucks’ next matchup.

Giannis Antetokounmpo remains “Out” for Bucks vs. Bulls game

The Milwaukee Bucks will head to the United Center to face the Bulls without Giannis Antetokounmpo, according to Nehm’s latest report. The 8-time All-Star was listed as questionable for the matchup before the franchise made the final decision to keep him out for another night.

Giannis also missed the last game against the Wizards due to back spasms. He has been dealing with stress in his lower back. So, the franchise opted not to take any risks with their star player. The Bucks comfortably secured a win without him and Lillard and would have to repeat the same tonight.

Giannis has been delivering explosive performances so far this season. In his 24 appearances, he has averaged 32.7 points, 11.6 rebounds, and 6.0 assists. Despite the hard work and effort, when his team didn’t make the cut for the telecast list, it left him upset, which explains his reaction. While Bucks fans may not be able to enjoy the game on Christmas, their love and support for the team will remain unwavering.