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‘Exceptional Skill’: Former NBA Champion Explains What Sets Giannis Antetokounmpo Apart From LeBron James and Kevin Durant
It is yet to completely set in that the Milwaukee Bucks have become champions after 50 years. They battled through their hardships and emerged victorious. Especially, Giannis Antetokounmpo who suffered an injury in the Conference Finals against the Hawks.
Many analysts wrote off the Bucks because they felt Giannis will not be available. However, he pulled through and played in the NBA finals. Despite coming back from an injury, he dominated and was the best player on the floor. Likewise, he went on to win Finals MVP and scored 50 points in the series clincher. Former Bucks player, Bob Dandridge, recently spoke about the Bucks’ success and had nothing but praise for the way Giannis played.
Dandrige says the ‘Greek Freak’ could step into LeBron and KD’s level
Bob Dandridge said that Giannis Antetokounmpo can be in the conversation with LeBron James and Kevin Durant if he continues to play the way he did in the Finals.
The former NBA champion particularly highlighted Giannis’ performances in the last 2 NBA finals games. He thinks the Greek Freak let the game of basketball come to him and shined through that. Dandridge said:
“If he just lets the game come to him and not try to force anything, he’s gonna step right into a level with LeBron and Durant. And I think he has something special that these guys don’t have. He has that energy level, exceptional skill. So, I mean if he gets three, that’ll be great. But, he comes back and plays just like he’s played these final 2 games, I’d be just perfectly happy with him. Because, he just showed a lot things in this last game that LeBron and Durant just has never shown me.”
Jul 20, 2021; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) begins to celebrate during the fourth quarter against the Phoenix Suns during game six of the 2021 NBA Finals at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Now, Giannis’ final 2 games were exceptional. He was passing the ball, trusting his teammates, getting points and also playing defence. In short, he was doing anything in everything in order to win and is surely in the conversation of it being a LeBron or KD kind of performance.
Could Giannis Antetokounmpo be better than LeBron and KD?
The ‘Greek Freak’ had one of the greatest series clincher performances in NBA history and tied for the most points scored. However, does he have what it takes to solidify himself on the mountain of the all-time greats?
Jul 20, 2021; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) accepts the Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award from NBA commissioner Adam Silver after game six of the 2021 NBA Finals against the Phoenix Suns at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Giannis is only 26 YO and is an NBA champion and Finals MVP. Moreover, he has won back-to-back MVP’S, a defensive player of the year and is a 5-time All-Star already. He is one of only 3 players to have a Finals MVP, regular season MVP and DPOY, joining Michael Jordan and Hakeem Olajuwon.
He is one of the best players in the NBA and only the sky is his ceiling. However, catching up with LeBron and KD is no easy job. Having to be as consistent as them and perform at the top level is not easy. Durant just came off his best scoring playoffs in his career. LeBron is 36 and continues to shock everyone with his longevity, putting up 25 points per game.
Jun 19, 2021; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) drives past Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant (7) for a layup in the first quarter during game seven in the second round of the 2021 NBA Playoffs at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports
To sum it up, Giannis has the talents and skill to be great. However, overtaking these two goliaths of the game will take a lot more. If Giannis continues this momentum, do you think he can be better than LeBron James and Kevin Durant?
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