It’s reasonable for someone to think that Giannis Antetokounmpo might be the best player in the NBA right now.
He’s an NBA champion, first of all. And he was the Finals MVP for the Bucks last season in one of the most epic series we’ve seen in recent years. His performance was flat-out historic and one of the best we’ve ever seen.
The Bucks and Antetokonumpo also knocked out Kevin Durant’s Brooklyn Nets, who many people regard as the best player and the best team in the league.
So, again, if you think Antetokounmpo is the best player in the world? I have no beef with that. I don’t think anyone could.
But the Bucks forward refuses to acknowledge it. In an interview with Eurohoop, Antetokounmpo definitively said he isn’t the best player in the world.
In fact, he named everyone else ahead of him before finally landing on LeBron James.
“I like being a hunter. I am not the best player in the world. I am telling you, I am not! KD, LeBron, Kawhi, Luka, Curry, AD might be. I am not. I am still hunting the All-Time Greats. LeBron is still the best player in the world.”
This guy, man. He’s being ridiculous at this point. Sure, LeBron James has the best basketball resume in the NBA at this point. But Antetokounmpo is right there with him. He’s just being humble.
He also did something similar after beating the Brooklyn Nets in the playoffs. He called Kevin Durant the best player in the world.
giannis again calls kevin durant the best player in the world pic.twitter.com/GtnKpKyqSj
— Dan Favale (@danfavale) June 20, 2021
This dude has no idea who the best player in the world actually is. He just knows that, apparently, it is not him. Which, I guess, man.
No idea what this is. It could just be early myth-building for a future NBA legend just like LeBron James used to do with Michael Jordan comparisons. That’s sort of what the “I like being the hunter” line feels like.
Antetokounmpo could also actually be this humble. Although, that seems extremely difficult when you’re as good at one thing as he is at basketball. Regardless, though, this dude is great. Not only is he a great player, but he’s also a great quote.
If he won’t call himself the best basketball player in the world, he’s good enough for someone else to certainly do it for him. And that’s good enough.
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