Giannis Antetokounmpo makes LeBron James statement in bid to follow Lakers star into NBA history books with rare feat
Despite being on the cusp of history, Giannis Antetokounmpo maintains that he is not motivated by personal recognition.
The 30-year-old Milwaukee Bucks player is capable of something that only LeBron James has accomplished.
Tuesday night in Las Vegas, Nevada, the Bucks play the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Cup final.
In addition to Antetokounmpo’s NBA title, two league MVPs, and NBA Finals MVP honors, victory at the T-Mobile Arena would earn him the NBA Cup.
After leading the Los Angeles Lakers to the Vegas prize in the inaugural in-season event last year, James is the only player with the entire set.
However, Giannis isn’t preoccupied with his own collection.
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“I don’t really think about that,” he replied.
“I put myself out there, try to compete, play well, and make as much progress as I can.
Things like making it to the NBA Cup final and winning the championship, in my opinion, just fall into place when you approach the game that way.
“It won’t happen if you concentrate on trying to win MVP.
“Because you approach the game the wrong way, and you’re thinking about yourself.”
“Like every kid who plays basketball, I always wanted to be one of the best players to ever play,” Giannis continued.
“You’re thinking about being one of the best and making that shot and dunking on someone when you’re dribbling the ball in your backyard.
“That’s something you consider constantly. However, it requires so much more.
Later this month, James will be 40, and he keeps hitting amazing figures.
Giannis remarked, “I constantly look at the other guys who set the standard for us, and his accomplishments are amazing and unprecedented.
“I genuinely want to continue playing as long as my body permits, which is until I’m 45 years old.
How the NBA Cup works
This year marked the return of the NBA Cup for a second season, with Las Vegas hosting the finals once more.
From November 12 to December 3, the 30 teams were divided into six groups of five teams each, and games were played on Tuesdays and Fridays.
On December 10 and 11, the top two wild cards and the six group winners move on to the quarterfinals.
Additionally, the last four will go to Las Vegas for the December 14 semifinals and December 17 final.
With the exception of the title game, every game counts toward the team’s regular-season record.
“LeBron essentially laid down the course and the plan for us. All we have to do is follow.
Antetokounmpo scored 32 points as the Bucks defeated the Atlanta Hawks 110-102 on Saturday night in the playoffs.
Oklahoma City easily defeated the Houston Rockets 111-96 in the second semifinal.
The Thunder are in first place in the Western Conference rankings and have only dropped five games this season, which is second only to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA.
“This is a great test for us,” Mark Daigneault, the coach of the Thunder, stated.
“They really took it to us when we faced them on the road towards the end of last year, but we had a fantastic game.
“Because we had been enjoying a fantastic season up until that moment, and we faced a squad that was eager to beat us, and they succeeded. We were physically mauled.
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For us, it was like water in the face, but it was fantastic.
“I thought it really informed us at the level of physicality, focus, everything you need to win against a good team, they exposed, on that particular night.”
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