Same double MVP of the season, same NBA champion and reigning Finals MVP, Giannis Antetokounmpo had stars in his eyes when he found himself in the middle of all the best players in history.
“It’s a funny feeling when you’re among these guys. Once you enter a room where Allen Iverson, Kevin Garnett, Jason Kidd, Paul Pierce, Magic Johnson, LeBron James, Steph Curry, James Harden, Damien Lillard are. I mean, all these guys… It hits you”he confided. “It was a great feeling. When you start playing basketball, when you are young, you never imagine that you will one day find yourself next to the best players of all time. Your name is called, and you get to shake their hands, stand right next to them, chat with them, it was amazing. I cried a little on stage.
The “Greek Freak”, for example, was over the moon when he was able to shake hands with Michael Jordan, a great first for him and a moment he is not ready to forget, even if the interview was brief.
“I had never met Michael Jordan before. I saw him once in Charlotte when we were playing a game, but I never got a chance to introduce myself to him.”he added. “I asked if he was there, but first I was told he wasn’t there. Then I saw him coming next and I was a bit in shock. It was fun to be able to shake his hand and talk to him for five seconds.
Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic ready to take up the torch
Giannis Antetokounmpo also had time to realize that he was the only player from the European continent in the company of Dirk Nowitzki. The opportunity already to recall how much he admired the career of the German interior, a player he observed a lot when he was still only a teenager.
But also to hope that other Europeans, even “non-Americans”, will be added to this prestigious list in the decades to come, mentioning Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic who are currently shining in the league.
“There were only two Europeans in this selection, right? It’s insane”, did he throw. “Having the opportunity to sit next to Dirk who kind of paved the way for us is an even more incredible feeling for me. I watched him play as a kid when he won the title for the Mavericks in 2011. He was one of us. I hope Luka (Doncic), Nikola (Jokic) and other European players can follow. I hope that other African players can also follow the example of Hakeem Olajuwon”.
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2013-14 | MIL | 77 | 25 | 41.4 | 34.7 | 68.3 | 1.0 | 3.4 | 4.4 | 2.0 | 2.3 | 0.8 | 1.6 | 0.8 | 6.8 |
| 2014-15 | MIL | 81 | 31 | 49.1 | 15.9 | 74.1 | 1.2 | 5.5 | 6.7 | 2.6 | 3.1 | 0.9 | 2.1 | 1.1 | 12.7 |
| 2015-16 | MIL | 80 | 35 | 50.6 | 25.7 | 72.4 | 1.4 | 6.2 | 7.7 | 4.3 | 3.2 | 1.2 | 2.6 | 1.4 | 16.9 |
| 2016-17 | MIL | 80 | 36 | 52.1 | 27.2 | 77.0 | 1.8 | 7.0 | 8.8 | 5.4 | 3.1 | 1.6 | 2.9 | 1.9 | 22.9 |
| 2017-18 | MIL | 75 | 37 | 52.9 | 30.7 | 76.0 | 2.1 | 8.0 | 10.0 | 4.8 | 3.1 | 1.5 | 3.0 | 1.4 | 26.9 |
| 2018-19 ★ | MIL | 72 | 33 | 57.8 | 25.6 | 72.9 | 2.2 | 10.3 | 12.5 | 5.9 | 3.2 | 1.3 | 3.7 | 1.5 | 27.7 |
| 2019-20 ★ | MIL | 63 | 30 | 55.3 | 30.4 | 63.3 | 2.2 | 11.4 | 13.6 | 5.6 | 3.1 | 1.0 | 3.7 | 1.1 | 29.5 |
| 2020-21 | MIL | 61 | 33 | 56.9 | 30.3 | 68.5 | 1.6 | 9.4 | 11.0 | 5.9 | 2.8 | 1.2 | 3.4 | 1.2 | 28.2 |
| 2021-22 | MIL | 49 | 33 | 54.7 | 30.9 | 72.1 | 1.9 | 9.3 | 11.2 | 6.0 | 3.2 | 1.0 | 3.3 | 1.4 | 29.5 |
| Total | 638 | 33 | 53.3 | 29.0 | 71.8 | 1.7 | 7.6 | 9.3 | 4.6 | 3.0 | 1.2 | 2.9 | 1.3 | 21.6 | |
