While Milwaukee Bucks were sent home in the first round of the last two NBA Playoffs, they are in a situation that few fans could have dreamed of just a decade ago. The 2013-14 Bucks finished the season with a dismal 15-67 record. That year also marked 19-year-old Giannis Antetokounmpo’s first season in the NBA after Milwaukee drafted him with the 15th pick in the draft.
After a rookie season in which Giannis averaged 6.8 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 24.6 minutes per game, few thought he would eventually become one of the best players in the NBA. In fact, he has already been named one of the 75 greatest players in NBA history.
Last season, the Greek Freak had one of the best seasons of his career, averaging 30.4 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 6.5 assists per game. He also became the first player in NBA history to average 30 or more points per game while shooting 60 percent.
ESPN Names Milwaukee Bucks Star Giannis Antetokounmpo 42nd Greatest Athlete of the 21st Century
On Monday, ESPN began releasing its list The 100 greatest professional athletes of the 21st century. The first edition of the ranking, which listed athletes ranked 76–100, included the names of legendary Green Bay Packers players: Aaron Rodgers and Charles Woodson.
Today, Wednesday, the numbers 26-50 were released. Giannis was listed at number 42:
Major Achievements: NBA 75th Anniversary Team, 2021 NBA Champion, 2021 Finals MVP, two-time MVP, 2019-20 Defensive Player of the Year, eight-time 2021 All-Star, seven-time NBA All-Star, five-time All-Defense, 2016-17 Most Improved Player.
“When Milwaukee Bucks drafted a lanky kid from Greece who had only been playing basketball for two years with the 15th overall pick in 2013, there was no way to predict how his arrival would impact the team’s trajectory over the next decade.
“Antetokounmpo transformed from an unknown but promising prospect into one of the most dominant power forwards ever on both ends of the court — culminating in a 50-point game in the 2021 NBA Finals to secure the franchise’s first championship in 50 years. The fact that he ordered 50 chicken nuggets the next day to celebrate only further endeared him to Milwaukee fans.” — Jamal Collier
Giannis has been in the NBA for 11 years now, but he’s not even 30 yet. In other words, he should move up this list in future versions as he continues to add more accolades to his resume.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is the greatest player in Milwaukee Bucks history
At this point in his career, with many years left in him, Giannis already leads Milwaukee in the following categories:
- Games played (792)
- Minutes played (25,945)
- Field goals (6732)
- Free throws (4,510)
- Total number of collections (7732)
- Assists (3,855)
- Points (18,502)
- Triple double (45)
- Blocks (986)
The best part, of course, is that Giannis has said (multiple times) that he wants to play in Milwaukee for the rest of his career. As long as the franchise is committed to winning.
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