"Jokic’s dominance already had Giannis considering retirement" - NBA fans bemused over Giannis Antetokounmpo's coaching aspirations post-retirement
Giannis Antetokounmpo has done what most NBA players could only dream of. He is an NBA champion, an NBA MVP twice, and a Defensive Player of the Year, among other accolades that made him an all-time great player.
Despite having the chance to add more to his hardware, the Milwaukee Bucks superstar is already pondering what his next career path could be after retirement. One of the possibilities, according to Giannis, could be being a coach.
“Afterward, when I retire, I want to be a head coach. A lot of people don't know that about me, but I want to be a head coach. I really want to be,” the Greek Freak said in an interview with CBS Sports’ Jasmyn Wimbish.
Giannis’ post-career remarks left NBA fans bemused, considering that the Bucks forward is only 30 years old and in his prime.
Fans were stunned by Giannis’ pronouncements and expressed their reactions on social media, quipping jokes about Antetokounmpo’s career situation as the Bucks have remained out of the title hunt since winning the NBA championship in 2021.
“Jokic’s dominance already had Giannis considering retirement 😳,” one fan said.
“Think about your second ring, not retirement plans🤣,” another fan said.
“He's putting the cart in front of the horse here. 😂,” one fan quipped.
Meanwhile, some fans have already predicted what a Giannis-mentored team would look like. Some discredited the Bucks’ star’s basketball IQ, while others did not trust him as a coach. Some also alluded to his brother Thanasis being one of his assistant coaches.
“Not enough knowledge of the game. He’s just gonna tell his players to sprint in the defender and throw elbows,” one fan said.
“This bouta be players faces trying to listen to him and Thanasis draw up a play in the huddle,” another fan said.
“Can’t hit a house from outside the paint, how tf could he coach,” another fan said.
Nevertheless, Giannis is still in the middle of his quest for another title, as he is currently averaging 32.7 points and 11.6 rebounds per game for the Bucks.
Giannis Antetokounmpo once said he wanted to disappear like Tim Duncan after retirement
Giannis’ latest quote contradicts his earlier statements, which expressed that he would love to disappear from the limelight after he retires, just like Tim Duncan did.
"I want to be like Tim Duncan," Antetokounmpo told Brian Scalabrine and Frank Isola on SiriusXM in 2022, adding, "Where the hell is Tim Duncan? I don't know where Tim Duncan is."
After retiring in 2016, Duncan had a brief stint as an assistant coach with the San Antonio Spurs, whom he led to five championships as a player. He is now managing his businesses outside of basketball.
Giannis and Duncan have been in the running in the all-time great power forwards, but the Spurs legend still has the edge, considering the amount of titles he won.