It was a slight that won’t be ignored. Kevin Garnettl, the NBA legend, rated Giannis Antetokounmpo as the fourth best player in the Eastern Conference. Emmet Ryan writes that all of basketball is going to be put on notice by the Milwaukee Bucks star as the Greek Freak has extra motivation for the coming season. KG’s going to hear about this.
Who doesn’t love a bit of off-season spicy drama? Kevin Garnett rarely disappoints in that regard. After Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics won the NBA championship, a first since KG’s days in Boston, and Joel Embiid won his first MVP award two years ago, Garnett has knocked Giannis Antetokounmpo down the rankings in his eyes. The Greek Freak tends to let his play do most of the talking. It’s going to be loud.
A touch of context
Ranking Giannis Antetokounmpo as fourth best player in the East (KG oddly didn’t say who he had third) is low. Still, let’s put a little bit of context on why that’s not quite the burn Kevin Garnett might think it is.
There are 225 players on NBA rosters in the East alone at any one time. That means there’s over 220 other guys who would love to be the fourth best player in the conference. That’s a lot of very good basketball players.
Fourth in the East is still a starting All Star. It’s still a certified lock to make an All-NBA team. Even if he was just the fourth best player in the East, the Greek Freak would still be amongst the very best players alive. He’d be in every awards discussion for at least part of the season. There’s around a dozen fanbases in the East alone that wish they had the fourth best player in the conference. But, of course…
It’s still ridiculous
The numbers simply don’t lie. Even going with the three most basic stats, before getting to the advanced stuff, it’s pretty evident that Giannis Antetokounmpo remains the best player in the conference and in the very narrow discussion for best basketball player alive.
Even in a season where the Milwaukee Bucks will have been disappointed with their team performance, he put up big numbers. The Greek Freak had a career best year in assists, at 6.5 per game. It was his second straight season scoring over 30 points per game, with 30.4 on average. That, out of interest, also saw him become the first NBA player ever to score that much while also averaging above 60 per cent shooting. His rebounding average, 11.5 per game, was, along with his points and assists, above his averages in the 2021 championship season.
Joel Embiid meanwhile struggled to suit up for half the season. He was very good while healthy but still behind Antetokounmpo on most metrics. Jayson Tatum is a dude, don’t get me wrong, but he trailed the Greek Freak in every aspect last year.
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Remember who we are talking about here
It feels somewhat ridiculous that I even felt the need to write the above. Do you know why Victor Wembanyama was dubbed the Alien when he got to the NBA? It’s because the Freak name was already taken. Giannis Antetokounmpo doesn’t move like a human. The Greek Freak isn’t just alliteration. Humans, even the best athletes alive, simply don’t move with that much grace and speed at that size.
The Milwaukee Bucks know it. That’s why they have moved heaven and earth to keep a once in a lifetime basketball talent happy. Now, some of those moves have certainly not worked out but the motivation was clear. A happy Giannis is a Giannis that stays in Wisconsin.
Yet, out of nowhere, the Bucks just got the best favour possible. At the end of the Olympics, I was convinced that Jayson Tatum had the most motivation of anyone going into this season. After all the questions over his lack of usage in Lille and Paris, it made sense. Then Kevin Garnett opened his mouth and everything changed.
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This wasn’t just anyone talking
Yes, KG isn’t exactly shy in his opinions. Still, remember who Kevin Garnett is if you’re Giannis Antetokounmpo. We’re talking about an all-timer on the defensive side of the game. Garnett has as many rings and one less MVP titles than the Greek Freak but he still has them.
Giannis is a shoo-in for All-NBA before the season has begun most years and immediately on the MVP shortlist. It’s not like the Milwaukee Bucks were worried about him lacking motivation. Now, he’s somehow got something more to prove. He will want to make KG eat his words and, of course, rise above it.
The Greek Freak is all about the love outwardly. The man just doesn’t let hate or bitterness come out when he speaks. Within burns a competitor. Like all of the best competitors, every slight gnaws on him. Those who question him even slightly must be put in their place. We all now Giannis can get nasty when he needs to.
With his shooting mechanics improving and coming off disappointment in the Olympics, as well as the miserable end to the NBA season, there’s something cooking here. The Greek Freak roars plenty and the world hears him. This year, thanks to one off hand remark from KG, he may be about to get louder.
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