Bam Adebayo puts Giannis Antetokounmpo in the same league as Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and Kobe Bryant
At 28 years old, Giannis Antetokounmpo is already one of the best players in the NBA. As good as he is right now, he might still be peaking, considering how determined he is to work on his weaknesses.
Meanwhile, with LeBron James playing in his 20th season, the end could be near for the four-time MVP and arguably the face of the NBA. When asked by Bleacher Report’s Taylor Rooks about who could replace James on the pedestal of current greats, here’s what Bam Adebayo had to say:
“I think it’s Giannis [Antetokounmpo]. I mean he’s seven foot, first of all. The thing that really got him the scene was when he would just take off from the free-throw line. Or he’ll get down the court and three dribbles and dunk it. Just very ‘2K-ish.’
“It looks very unreal. And I feel like that’s the thing that put Jordan over the top. That’s what put Kobe [Bryant] in that and Bron [James]. It’s like they had this special gift they only had.
“The fact that he can two-step through four people and dunk the basketball, it’s, like, boring now, but it’s, like, really different.”
Giannis’ ”2K-ish” ability puts him in the same group as MJ, Kobe & LeBron
(via @TaylorRooks) https://t.co/LZWCUUZs9L
Giannis Antetokounmpo is a two-time MVP who has consistently been a threat to win the award for six straight seasons now. He is a former Defensive Player of the Year, an NBA Finals MVP and a member of the league’s 75th Anniversary team.
The “Greek Freak” doesn’t have the most aesthetically-pleasing game, but he gets the job done. An underrated part of Antetokounmpo is his ability to just slog through an 82-game schedule without causing drama.
Outside of that now infamous ladder scene last year, after a horrible performance against the Philadelphia 76ers, Giannis Antetokounmpo has also been a model citizen.
While some stars struggle when the lights are brightest, Antetokounmpo has proven he can shine in those situations. He led the Milwaukee Bucks after going down 2-0 to the Phoenix Suns in the 2021 NBA Finals to hand the franchise its first title in 50 years.
One Year Ago Today: Giannis Antetokounmpo helps the Milwaukee Bucks secure their first NBA title in 50 years.
With 50 points, Giannis tied Bob Pettit in 1958 for the most in a Finals-clinching win in NBA history. https://t.co/oJXAsvIIxh
To recall, he came off a knee injury to close out the Suns. Giannis Antetokounmpo exploded for 50 points to go with 14 rebounds. Incredibly, he made 17-19 shots from the free-throw line, a place that’s historically his Achilles heel.
The Milwaukee Bucks also dragged the Boston Celtics to a thrilling Game 7 in the Eastern Conference semifinals last season. Antetokounmpo made no excuses despite playing the series without Khris Middleton.
This season, they’re looking as good as ever to win the NBA championship.
Giannis Antetokounmpo’s peers are giving him well-deserved recognition
Six years ago, Kevin Durant had this to say on “The Bill Simmons” podcast about Giannis Antetokounmpo:
"I like long, athletic guys. That's just who I am. The Greek Freak, I think is a force, and I've never seen anything like him. And his ceiling is probably— he could end up being the best player to ever play if he really wanted to.
"That's pretty scary to think about. But he's by far my favorite player to watch."
Heading into this season, ESPN and most general managers voted Giannis Antetokounmpo as the best player in the NBA.
Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum perhaps summed it up best when he was asked who the best player in the NBA is right now:
"When he [Antetokounmpo] has an off-night, it’s still 25 [points] and 15 [rebounds]."
Jayson Tatum and Donovan Mitchell pick Giannis Antetokounmpo as the best player in the NBA 👀
(via @malika_andrews) https://t.co/urJA9QnsgE
Antetokounmpo is currently recuperating from a quad injury, with the Bucks set to clash horns with the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday night.