Giannis Antetokounmpo responded to James Harden's comments about his lack of skills following the Milwaukee Bucks' 133-86 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder.

"My game is not just power for sure ... obviously, it's going to be times where you've got to power through guys. Like one of the best players, LeBron, Michael Jordan, Kobe and all those guys ... Shaq, all those guys, they were extremely physical with their play. They made their presence felt in the paint, but obviously I try to work on my game, midrange shots, 3s, being able to screen and roll faster and make the right pass," said Antetokounmpo.

Antetokounmpo had picked Kemba Walker on his All-Star team over Harden, insinuating that he wants someone who passes the ball.

Harden responded to Antetokounmpo in an interview with Rachel Nichols, saying "I wish I could just run and be 7 feet and just dunk. Like that takes no skill at all. I gotta actually learn how to play basketball, how to have skill."

Antetokounmpo also said that he's still adding pieces to his game.

"It's hard to drive full speed and try to make the right pass to the corner. I try to get my passes more accurate and it's a lot of things I'm still adding, and hopefully when I add all those things in my game, I'm a more complete player and I'm better and can help my team win and the game is easier."

James Harden responded to derisive comments Giannis Antetokounmpo made against him during the NBA All-Star Game draft.

Antetokounmpo selected Kemba Walker over Harden, insinuating that he preferred someone who passes the ball. Harden pointed out that he averages more assists per game than Walker, but his next comment was outwardly dismissive of Antetokounmpo's skill. 

"I wish I could just run and be 7 feet and just dunk. Like that takes no skill at all," Harden said. "I gotta actually learn how to play basketball, how to have skill. I take that any day."

Giannis Antetokounmpo said he still remembered how the Milwaukee Bucks struggled the last time they played in Toronto following their 108-97 win over the Raptors.

The game was the first time the Bucks returned to Toronto since losing in game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

"You always remember the last time you play here, the problems you had. It was definitely on my mind," said Antetokounmpo after finishing with 19 points and 19 rebounds in 38 minutes. 

The Bucks outscored the Raptors 45-20 from the 2:58 minute of the second quarter to the end of the third.

The Bucks also improved to 8-0 on the second night of back-to-back games.

"We have a winning culture. So it doesn't matter if you are hurt, it doesn't matter if you are tired -- the next guy up is ready to go. Everybody wants to play, everybody wants to win, and that's why we win games. Sometimes on a back-to-back you lose because you're tired, right? And you give up. But this team doesn't do that. So I think that we really don't think about, 'Oh, it's a back-to-back. We are going to win it.' We just have to go out there and do our job, which is to just win games," added Antetokounmpo. 

The Milwaukee Bucks clinched the earliest playoff berth in at least 15 years, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

The Bucks clinched a playoff position after the Wizards lost to the Bulls on Sunday. The postseason doesn't begin for another 55 days. 

The Bucks, currently 48-8, are on pace to win 70 games this season.

With the Milwaukee Bucks owning the best record in the NBA and the prohibitive favorites to reach The Finals out of the Eastern Conference, Giannis Antetokounmpo has a multitude of reasons to sign a supermax extension this offseason.

"Given how well the Bucks are playing, every executive we spoke to expects Antetokounmpo to re-sign with Milwaukee," writes Tim Bontemps of ESPN.

If Antetokounmpo were to decide to wait on signing a supermax during the 2020 offseason, he will become a free agent in 2021.

Antetokounmpo won MVP last season and is the prohibitive favorite to win again this season.

Giannis Antetokounmpo stopped short of committing his long-term future to the Milwaukee Bucks, but he reiterated how he plans to remain with the franchise for as long as they keep winning.

“I can’t think that far ahead. I’m just trying to focus on the moment and get better,” Antetokounmpo said. 

“But why not? I’m a guy that wants to be with a team for a while. As long as we’re winning. And we’re winning so far, so I don’t think anything’s going to change.”

Antetokounmpo can sign a supermax extension this offseason and can become a free agent in 2021.

The Los Angeles Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks are favorites to win the NBA title at Caesars Sportsbook heading into the All-Star break.

The Lakers are +180 favorites, with the Bucks at +275.

More than twice as much money has been bet on the Lakers to win the title as any other team, according to Caesars.

The Clippers are the only other team with single-digit title odds at +325. 

The Milwaukee Bucks are waiving Dragan Bender, league sources told Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

The move clears a roster spot for Marvin Williams, who will sign with the Bucks after agreeing to a buyout with the Hornets.

Bender averaged 3.7 points in 7 games this season. 

The Detroit Pistons have received trade calls from multiple teams on Markieff Morris.

The Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, Milwaukee Bucks, Philadelphia 76ers, Houston Rockets and Boston Celtics have registered interest in Morris.

Morris signed a two-year, $7.4 million deal with the Pistons during the 2019 offseason.

Giannis Antetokounmpo and LeBron James have been named the NBA's Players of the Month for January.

Antetokounmpo averaged 29.2 points, 13.4 rebounds and 5.7 assists in January as the Milwaukee Bucks went 11-2.

James averaged 25.4 points, 10.4 assists and 8.1 rebounds as the Los Angeles Lakers went 10-4.