The James Harden-Giannis Antetokounmpo rivalry isn’t new, but it seems like they need to renovate it every season. Things weren’t that heated last season, but we could have seen these superstars clashing in the Eastern Conference semifinals if Harden didn’t get hurt.
Instead, Giannis had to battle it out with Kevin Durant, leading his team to the ECF and the eventual NBA championship. We didn’t see a new chapter of their rivalry. However, people still like to talk about the apparent animosity between these two.
Their beef is one of the most famous around the league, and whenever people have the chance, they ask about it. Recently, Giannis was inquired about Harden’s infamous comments about his style of play. Last year, The Beard took a big shot at the Greek Freak, saying it was easy for him to dominate since he was a 7 footer that only dunked the ball.
“I wish I could just be 7 feet and run and dunk. That takes no skill at all,” he told ESPN’s Rachel Nichols. “I actually have to learn how to play basketball and have skill. I’ll take that any day.”
Giannis had already replied to that, saying that Harden is entitled to his opinion, and that was fine. But he recently changed his words a little, claiming that Harden never mentioned his name and that maybe he meant something different with his comments.
“First of all, Harden never mentioned my name. I have seen this video, about one year later. I think what he meant was that if he was also a 7 footer, jumped and dunk, it would have been easier for him,” the 2x NBA MVP told COSMOTE TV, via Eurohoops.
Giannis Antetokounmpo on COSMOTE TV about the Harden "no skill" comment: "First of all, Harden never mentioned my name. I have seen this video, about one year later. I think what he meant was that if he was also a 7footer, jumped and dunk, it would have been easier for him".
— Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet) September 24, 2021
This rivalry apparently started when Giannis was very young. Ever since that moment, things have gone wrong. They clashed in the 2019 and 2020 MVP races, but that first award created more issues between Harden and Antetokounmpo.
At this moment, there’s no sign that their relationship has improved and with the Milwaukee Bucks and Brooklyn Nets competing for a spot in the NBA Finals next year, it would be hard seeing these two making amends and becoming friends. In the end, Antetokounmpo doesn’t want to be that friendly with rivals.
We will probably see these two monsters going at it next year, trying to lead their respective teams to the promised land. The Nets and Bucks are two of the three biggest favorites for the title. Adding all these factors to the mix makes this potential matchup more exciting.
