“21 years … never get in trouble”: Giannis Antetokounmpo commends ‘blueprint’ setter LeBron James for family values
Many fans believe that LeBron James is a wonderful example of how to stay healthy and compete for long in the NBA, and Giannis Antetokounmpo is one of them.
In an interview with The Athletic's Joe Vardon, Giannis Antetokounmpo praised LeBron James for setting the current standard on how to have a lengthy yet successful NBA career.
The Milwaukee Bucks superstar said:
“For 21 years, you never get in trouble, to be able to take in his family, protect this family, raise his kids the right way, you know, be happily married, all those things, it’s perfect.”
Giannis Antetokounmpo, now entering his 11th season in the NBA, added that he wanted to follow the model set by LeBron James, who now enters his 21st season.
Antetokounmpo further added:
"He’s kind of like setting the blueprint for the rest of us to go forward. That’s what I want. I want to be able to do what I do on the court consistently, be good, be healthy, be available for my team, be able to, you know, raise my family in a bubble away from what I do on the court for them to have a normal life as much as I can. Stay out of trouble."
Giannis Antetokounmpo's new star teammate says LeBron James might get more respect
Damian Lillard, Giannis Antetokounmpo's new teammate with the Bucks, is aware that LeBron James has his own fair share of bashers. However, Lillard thinks James will get more respect from the fans by the time he retires
Lillard, now aged 33 and is entering his 12th NBA season, said:
“I think people will look back at that body of work over 20 years or however long it’s been, and when it’s over with, I think they’ll have more respect.”
While most players his age would see their numbers decrease dramatically, prompting them to consider retirement. However, James appeared to be still in good touch, despite turning 39 this December.
During the past regular season, he averaged 28.9 points, 8.3 rebounds, 6.8 assists, and 0.6 blocks per game, although for the first time in his career, he averaged less than one a game in steals.
In the Los Angeles Lakers' play-in game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, though, LeBron James went for 30 points, 10 rebounds, six assists, one steal, and two blocks en route to the overtime win.
During the playoffs, he averaged 24.5 points, 9.9 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 1.1 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game, guiding the Lakers to the Conference Finals despite being the seventh seed in the Western Conference.