Giannis Antetokounmpo hilariously jokes that he doesn't want to be the face of the NBA: "I want to be the best role player to ever play"
Giannis Antetokounmpo displayed his hilarious side once again when he was asked about being the face of the NBA. The Milwaukee Bucks superstar is arguably the best player in the league and is widely admired, too, making him a great candidate to be the league's face. However, Giannis only wants to be one of the best role players ever, as he said jokingly in a recent interview.
"I really don't want to be the face of the league," said Giannis (h/t Bleacher Report). "I want to be the best role player to ever play the game."
Giannis got jokes 😅
(via @washingtonpost) https://t.co/PpP7Mn5l39
Antetokounmpo's off-court personality has never been any different. The "Greek Freak" has remained humble, despite the success that he has had so far. He has stayed away from public light. Despite being a legitimate candidate to be the face of the NBA, he seems like someone who wouldn't mind not having the spot if it doesn't come his way.
Giannis Antetokounmpo could be an undisputed face of the league candidate if he wins second championship
Whether he wants it or not, Giannis Antetokounmpo could be next to Steph Curry and LeBron James as undisputed faces of the league figures if he wins a title this year. It would be his second in three years. Antetokounmpo will have to guide the Bucks against multiple challengers in a stacked Eastern Conference this time.
That alone would make this one of the toughest paths to winning a title. Giannis has already led the Bucks to the best record in the league, despite playing without his co-star Khris Middleton for majority of the season. Middleton missed 48 games with one game left this year.
The Bucks look stronger than they did last season. They stretched their conference semis against eventual runners-up Boston Celtics to seven games without Middleton behind Giannis' heroic efforts.
With some more help around him, Giannis Antetokounmpo could help Milwaukee advance even in the absence of Middleton if it comes down to it. Brook Lopez and Jrue Holiday have elevated their play, too, while role players like Jevon Carter and Bobby Portis have also been highly consistent.
The Milwaukee Bucks enter the 2023 NBA playoffs as a top-five defense and fourth-best 3-point shooting team. They are 15th offensively with a 114.4 rating but are only marginally behind the seventh-best offensively rated team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, who have a 115.7 rating.
Meanwhile, Giannis Antetokounmpo enters the postseason behind a career-high points-per-game average of 31.1 on 55.3% shooting.