Wake Forest alum Jeff Teague says this NBA Finals MVP's championship deserves an asterisk

The end of the NBA season is fast approaching, and teams are working hard to improve their seeding. The Western Conference is especially tight, with teams in danger of falling into the play-in tournament or managing to climb their way out. On Thursday night, a massive game with major seeding implications will take place between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Golden State Warriors.

The winner of this game will strengthen their case to avoid the dreaded seventh seed, while the loser will move one step closer to it. 

On the other hand, a less competitive game in the East features the Milwaukee Bucks and the Philadelphia 76ers. The 76ers have been plagued by injuries all season, and the Bucks are currently without Damian Lillard, who is sidelined due to a blood clot.

“The recovery is unpredictable, and it’s all based on how long it takes for the blood clot to dissolve,” Jared Weiss wrote.

Lillard faces the same issue as San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama, who has also been sidelined for the remainder of the season. If Lillard is unable to return, the Bucks’ chances of winning the NBA Finals could take a serious hit, as they currently sit in sixth place in the East.

To add to the challenges, Giannis Antetokounmpo is dealing with a foot sprain. Milwaukee is focused on ensuring he is fully healthy for the playoffs, so he may rest on Thursday night.

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Antetokounmpo won the NBA Championship in 2021, but Jeff Teague believes that title should come with an asterisk.

“People always put an asterisk by [Giannis’ championship] because Brooklyn, everybody got hurt, and KD stepped on that line. They beat us by 50, bro,” Teague said.

After the Bucks won the series against the Nets thanks to Kevin Durant’s large feet, they went on to win the NBA Finals over the Phoenix Suns. Had it not been for Durant’s foot on the line, the outcome might have been very different.