Giannis Antetokounmpo is earning his place amongst the NBA greats every time he steps onto the court and achieves something we haven’t seen before. He has won every single award he could have competed for and is still looking to add more championships. Despite that, Gilbert Arenas decided to criticize one of the best two-way players of this generation by saying Giannis ‘doesn’t know basketball’.
Those comments have generated strong reactions from many people, including Arenas college teammate Richard Jefferson. Dallas Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki has chimed in as well, praising Giannis and saying even Giannis would say he needs to keep improving as a player.
“Unbelievable. When I first saw him, he was this skinny kid,” Nowitzki said. “Just to see the growth over him the last couple of years, he has gotten stronger, his skill level improved and he seems very hungry to still get better, to work hard, to play for his country, work in the summer and come as an even better player the next year.
“He is one of the best players in the world and has shown it as a champion and an MVP,” Nowitzki said. “He is the first one to tell you you can always improve, but if you look at what he is done already at such a young age, he is one of the best.” (h/t Marca)
Is Giannis Antetokounmpo The Best Player In The World?
Based on Giannis’s performances in EuroBasket 2022, it can be said that Giannis is the best in the world. He was given the highest rating on NBA 2K and is still considered by many to be the best in the world because of his two-way ability. The only players with an argument over Giannis are Stephen Curry and Nikola Jokic, the reigning Finals MVP and reigning regular season MVP.
Luka Doncic is currently competing against Giannis at EuroBasket and even he knows the level that Antetokounmpo is at is different from others, saying Giannis is the easy answer to a question about who’ll score the most points in a single game at EuroBasket.
Dirk very politely dismissed what Gilbert Arenas said about Giannis, but everyone can see the effort Giannis has put into his game and developing to the position he is at today.
