Giannis Antetekounmpo is seemingly tired of NBA fans not giving him his flowers despite being a great player.
When the Milwaukee Bucks drafted Antetokounmpo with the 15th overall pick in the 2013 NBA draft, no one expected him to become the star he is today. But against all odds, Giannis has established himself as one of the best players of this generation.
The Greek Freak has a stocked resume that features one NBA title and two NBA MVPs among other accolades. Despite that, not many consider him an all-time great just yet. Well, the Bucks superstar wants that to change.
For years, the NBA GOAT debate has featured a constant battle between Michael Jordan and LeBron James. Although Kobe Bryant, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and other NBA legends’ names may occasionally pop up, for most fans the debate comes down to MJ vs. LBJ.
It seems that Antetokounmpo wants fans to realize his greatness as well. In a now-viral clip, Giannis urged the NBA community to stop taking him for granted.
“You’re witnessing greatness,” Antetokounmpo said. “As much as people hate on me and they take me for granted, [I’m] one of the most efficient players in the league ever. Can’t guard me, one-on-one. I’ve never seen a player that other teams create defense for him ever.”
He added: “Shaq played his game, Kobe played his game, Jordan played his game, KD played his game, LeBron played his game, only one player made the other team create walls for him and it’s Giannis Antetokounmpo. So yes, you are witnessing greatness. Thank you so much.”
There is no doubt that Giannis is a talented superstar and he deserves respect from fans. However, to put himself in the same conversation as Jordan, James, and Bryant may be a stretch right now.
It’s obvious that the Bucks superstar has already accumulated enough feats to be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame when he retires. There are no two ways to look at it.
But at the same time, Antetokounmpo’s resume may be a little too thin to be compared against other all-time greats. Does it mean he can never reach that level? Certainly not.
As of now, he is just 29 years old and still in the prime of his career. If he can manage to win at least three more NBA championships, he could be an all-time great. But to give credit where it’s due, the Greek Freak’s ability to get past opposing defenses is excellent. It indeed makes him a tough player to guard.
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