Giannis to Monty: ‘Good chance we might run it back next year’

Jul 23, 2021, 7:20 PM | Updated: Jul 24, 2021, 3:55 pm

Head coach Monty Williams of the Phoenix Suns hugs Devin Booker #1 in the final seconds of the team;s win against the LA Clippers during the second half in Game Six of the Western Conference Finals at Staples Center on June 30, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. The Suns advance to the NBA Finals. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

BY SAM GRAVELINE

Arizona Sports

The Milwaukee Bucks may only be days removed from defeating the Phoenix Suns for the NBA Championship.

However, Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo may already be looking ahead to a future showdown between the teams.

In a sit down with ESPN’s Malika Andrews, Antetokounmpo was asked about Suns head coach Monty Williams entering his team’s locker room during its championship celebration.

From the cutting room floor of our @SportsCenter convo: Giannis discusses this moment Suns coach Monty Williams. “I had the people stop the music and stop the champagne… I told him, ‘I feel like there's a good chance we might running back next year.’ More: https://t.co/GizGXOyuPj pic.twitter.com/YjuFhbDES7

— Malika Andrews (@malika_andrews) July 23, 2021

The Finals MVP revealed that he invited Williams to come into the locker room.

“He’s a great coach, he got the best out of his team,” Antetokounmpo said. “I felt like the right thing to do was to take him into the locker room and allow him to talk to the team.”

Once the blaring music and champagne showers were put to a temporary hold, Williams congratulated the Bucks.

Walking him out of his team’s locker room, Antetokounmpo said he congratulated Williams for the success the Suns had during their playoff run and wished them luck for next year.

Antetokounmpo might have even revealed his early prediction for the Finals next year.

“I told him it’s a good chance we (Bucks/Suns) run it back again next year,” he said. “But that’s too far away, I can’t be thinking about that.”

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Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton (22) and Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez (11) battle for the ball during the first half of Game 6 of basketball's NBA Finals in Milwaukee, Tuesday, July 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) battles for the ball against Phoenix Suns forward Jae Crowder (99) during the first half of Game 6 of basketball's NBA Finals in Milwaukee, Tuesday, July 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) battles under the basket against Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul, center, and center Deandre Ayton, right, during the first half of Game 6 of basketball's NBA Finals in Milwaukee, Tuesday, July 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul (3) drives past Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo during the first half of Game 6 of basketball's NBA Finals in Milwaukee, Tuesday, July 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Milwaukee Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer watches form the bench during the first half of Game 6 of basketball's NBA Finals against the Phoenix Suns in Milwaukee, Tuesday, July 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton (22) slam dunks during the first half of Game 6 of basketball's NBA Finals against the Phoenix Suns in Milwaukee, Tuesday, July 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Phoenix Suns head coach Monty Williams watches from the bench during the first half of Game 6 of basketball's NBA Finals against the Milwaukee Bucks in Milwaukee, Tuesday, July 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Milwaukee Bucks center Bobby Portis (9) reacts during the first half of Game 6 of basketball's NBA Finals against the Phoenix Suns in Milwaukee, Tuesday, July 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Milwaukee Bucks guard Jrue Holiday challenges Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) as he drives to the basket during the first half of Game 6 of basketball's NBA Finals in Milwaukee, Tuesday, July 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) battles against Phoenix Suns forward Jae Crowder during the first half of Game 6 of basketball's NBA Finals in Milwaukee, Tuesday, July 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton (22) shoots against Milwaukee Bucks guard Pat Connaughton (24) during the first half of Game 6 of basketball's NBA Finals in Milwaukee, Tuesday, July 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez, facing, pressures Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker during the first half of Game 6 of basketball's NBA Finals in Milwaukee, Tuesday, July 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Fans watch television coverage of Game 6 of the NBA basketball finals between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Phoenix Suns, Tuesday, July 20, 2021, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)

Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) goes to the basket over Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker and Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton, bottom right, during the first half of Game 6 of basketball's NBA Finals in Milwaukee, Tuesday, July 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Fans watch television coverage of Game 6 of the NBA basketball finals between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday, July 20, 2021, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)

Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) moves towards the basket against Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) during the first half of Game 6 of basketball's NBA Finals in Milwaukee, Tuesday, July 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Phoenix Suns forward Mikal Bridges (25) shoots over Milwaukee Bucks guard Pat Connaughton (24) during the first half of Game 6 of basketball's NBA Finals in Milwaukee, Tuesday, July 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Phoenix Suns forward Mikal Bridges (25) goes to the basket against Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo during the first half of Game 6 of basketball's NBA Finals Tuesday, July 20, 2021, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) works the ball against Milwaukee Bucks guard Bryn Forbes (7) during the first half of Game 6 of basketball's NBA Finals Tuesday, July 20, 2021, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)

Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) is double teamed by Phoenix Suns forward Jae Crowder (99) and guard Chris Paul during the first half of Game 6 of basketball's NBA Finals Tuesday, July 20, 2021, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)

Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez (11) goes to the basket against Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton (22) during the first half of Game 6 of basketball's NBA Finals in Milwaukee, Tuesday, July 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez (11) reacts during the first half of Game 6 of basketball's NBA Finals against the Phoenix Suns Tuesday, July 20, 2021, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)

Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) slam dunks over Phoenix Suns forward Frank Kaminsky (8), forward Mikal Bridges (25) and forward Jae Crowder (99) during the second half of Game 6 of basketball's NBA Finals in Milwaukee, Tuesday, July 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) goes to the basket against Phoenix Suns forward Mikal Bridges (25) during the second half of Game 6 of basketball's NBA Finals in Milwaukee, Tuesday, July 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) reacts during the second half of Game 6 of basketball's NBA Finals against the Phoenix Suns in Milwaukee, Tuesday, July 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) shoots against Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) and guard Jrue Holiday (21) during the first half of Game 6 of basketball's NBA Finals in Milwaukee, Tuesday, July 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Milwaukee Bucks guard Pat Connaughton (24) looks to pass under pressure from Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul, left, and forward Jae Crowder during the first half of Game 6 of basketball's NBA Finals in Milwaukee, Tuesday, July 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Fans cheer after the Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Phoenix Suns in Game 6 of the NBA basketball finals to win the NBA championship Tuesday, July 20, 2021, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)

Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo hugs forward P.J. Tucker after defeating the Phoenix Suns in Game 6 of basketball's NBA Finals Tuesday, July 20, 2021, in Milwaukee. The Bucks won 105-98. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)

Fans cheer after the Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Phoenix Suns in Game 6 of the NBA basketball finals to win the championship, Tuesday, July 20, 2021, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)

Fireworks explode over Fiserv Forum after the Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Phoenix Suns in Game 6 of the NBA basketball finals Tuesday, July 20, 2021, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)

Fans watch Game 6 of the NBA basketball finals between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Phoenix Suns Tuesday, July 20, 2021, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)

Milwaukee Bucks center Bobby Portis (9) reacts during the first half of Game 6 of basketball's NBA Finals against the Phoenix Suns Tuesday, July 20, 2021, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)

Fans cheer after the Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Phoenix Suns in Game 6 of the NBA basketball finals, Tuesday, July 20, 2021, in Milwaukee. The Bucks won the NBA championship. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)

Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) holds the finals MVP trophy after the Bucks defeated the Phoenix Suns in Game 6 of basketball's NBA Finals in Milwaukee, Tuesday, July 20, 2021. The Bucks won 105-98. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

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