Utilizing an unthinkable step-back dagger three move to push their marquee showdown with the Brooklyn Nets to overtime, Giannis Antetokounmpo also jumped over the legendary Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in the Milwaukee Bucks’ all-time scoring column. The Greek Freak now holds the crown with 14,172 points and counting, as he exits the borough with the W under his belt in Thursday’s statement game.
For Antetokounmpo, grabbing the No. 1 rank in franchise scoring means a lot to him – which pulverized the limitations that some people have set for him in dominating the game.
“I did not know about it, but it’s good. It’s good because I’m changing the narrative,” Antetokounmpo said, via ESPN’s Nick Friedell. “You know, I don’t want to be the guy that only dunks and runs. I can make a three.”
Giannis seems to be taking a reference on what fellow superstar James Harden said to him in 2020 regarding his skill set that is only confined to being a “run and dunk”. Following the controversial statement by Harden, mixed reactions were drawn and conversations suddenly formed about the superstar big man’s capabilities.
But to this day wherein he cemented a historic mark as a player, as a Milwaukee Buck, and possibly as this year’s MVP, Giannis remains grounded and focused on the bigger picture – maintaining that tunnel vision of leading his team to the promised land for back-to-back seasons.
“It doesn’t really matter, because at the end of the day, if you don’t have a successful season and if you don’t try to keep getting better, and staying humble, and staying hungry to play all the way until May and June, nobody is going to remember this. So I just want to stay humble, I want us to stay humble. I feel like the more humble I get, and the more hungry I stay, the more things I can accomplish, the more art I can create… I just gotta keep staying humble, make my teammates great, win games, and good things like tonight are gonna happen.” (h/t Joe Linn of Sports Illustrated)
After dropping 44 markers in a spectacular performance that led to another dub for the reigning champs, Giannis is now back in leading the league in scoring (30.1) tied with LeBron James of the L. A. Lakers, slightly having an advantage on Philadelphia 76ers superstar Joel Embiid (30.0). As such, his performance tonight against the Nets and last Tuesday against the Philly strengthened his odds to grab that Most Valuable Player award for the third time around.
Giannis and the Bucks will fly back home to Wisconsin and will play against the visiting Los Angeles Clippers tomorrow.
