Giannis Antetokounmpo keeps up with the greatest

Faced with modest networksThe Bucks snapped a seven-game losing streak. Victory marked by 21,000. career point Giannis Antetokounmporegistered in the 2nd quarter. In Milwaukee, we had it all planned out with a tribute video airing during a timeout, while “Greek Freak” greeted their fans from the Fiserv Forum.

“I think when I was younger, years ago, it was just another day….I would just do my job and then go home.” Giannis reacts. “But as you get older, you start to appreciate those moments and don’t take them for granted. When Coach Doc came to me and told me that in the entire history of basketball there have only been 11 or 12 players who have scored 21,000 points with one team, I was speechless.”

A little kid from Greece invites himself into the midst of legends

Giannis is the 42nd player to reach this milestone and the sixth youngest behind LeBron James, Wilt Chamberlain, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant and Michael Jordan. Just legends, and he is the youngest European to achieve it, and that is what makes him so proud.

“It’s being a kid from Greece, from Sepolia where I grew up in a small neighborhood (in Athens) where, say, not many big things happen or not many people go out…” continues the Greek. “I’m very grateful to be able to be on this stage and reach 21,000 career points 30 years later.

And then there’s the fact of rubbing shoulders with the greatest players in history on the books. “We’re talking about Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Wilt and Kevin Durant. The best of the best… and I doubt anyone would say otherwise. Just to be on this list with them is amazing. Have I accomplished as much as them? I don’t think so. Do I still have a lot of room to improve, to improve, and years to write my top legend. It’s not in six, seven or eight years.”

How high will it climb?

Averaging close to 30 points each year, Giannis will quickly climb the ranks of the all-time leading scorers. “In my opinion, it’s four years from now. Four, five years, four and a half years. I think when I’m 35 years old and sitting in this chair, we’re going to be talking about being at the top of the all-time list, and I predicted that.”

If overtaking LeBron James will be very complicated, if not impossible, on the other hand, Giannis has the potential to become the best European scorer in history. Goal: surpass Dirk Nowitzki’s 31,560 points, 6th best scorer in history.