The Milwaukee Bucks are coming off their second straight win with a victory over the formidable Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday. Needless to say, the hard-fought battle did not come without its fair share of learning experiences.

Head coach Jason Kidd has been adamant about the Bucks shortening up their miscues, especially on the defensive end. That said, any player not doing their job can be quickly subjected to the bench. For Kidd, that even involves superstar forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, according to Matt Velazquez of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

“Even Giannis can make mistakes and understanding we’re a team, there is no favorite,” Kidd said. “He made a mistake, he understood the mistake, and he moved on.”

Kidd had quickly replaced Antetokounmpo just minutes into the second half after he gave up two easy buckets to Timberwolves forward Taj Gibson in the paint. While most players would have been baffled by the decision, the “Greek Freak” had no problem with it.

“I love it,” Antetokounmpo said three times. “If you’re not doing the right thing, you’ve got to sit your butt on the bench. I think Coach did a great job pulling guys out and teaching them a lesson. I was one of them. He pulled me out and he told me, ‘You’ve got to play harder.’ I came back in, played harder. I love that. (For) a coach to do that, that means he really wants to win and he really cares about his team. We’ve got to appreciate that as players.” “That’s something I like and you’ve got to have the, how can I say it politely — I can’t say it politely now — you’ve got to have the nuts … to do that,” Antetokounmpo said of Kidd’s decision to bench him. “Me as a player and I know everyone on this team appreciates that. No one gets no special treatment. We’re just here to win. Whoever wants to play hard is going to play, whoever doesn’t want to play hard is going to sit on the bench.”

While any team would love to have a bevy of stars at its disposal, there are often concerns that it could undermine a coach’s authority. In order for a coach to earn the respect of his players, he must hold every individual accountable, regardless of status.

Fortunately, it also helps that Giannis Antetokounmpo is as modest as he is electrifying. Having a superstar and leader like him certainly sets a prime example of how a team should respond after making a mistake. Furthermore, it seems the Bucks have bought into Jason Kidd’s system as they currently sit in fifth place in the Eastern Conference.