Giannis Antetokounmpo is one of the best players in the league today, but there is no doubt that he’s had to put in a lot of work to get to the level he’s at. Nobody expected him to become a superstar-level player when he was drafted in 2014, but it is clear that Giannis Antetokounmpo has defied all odds to make that happen.
In fact, when one of his coaches compared him to Nicolas Batum, Giannis Antetokounmpo got upset, saying that he’d go back to Greece if he became a player of that caliber.
“You see Batum?..Look at him. Really look at him. He’s a really good player. If you work really hard, you might be able to be a Nic Batum type of player.”
“Coach, if I become Nic Batum, I’m going back to Greece.”
It is clear that Giannis Antetokounmpo wanted to be the best version of himself that he could possibly be, and that has led him to become an international superstar. Antetokounmpo has gotten better every single year, and there’s no telling how good he will get in the future.
Dirk Nowitzki Says Giannis Antetokounmpo Has Gotten Better Every Year
Dirk Nowitzki is one of the best international big men to ever play the game, notably winning a championship with the Dallas Mavericks in 2011. He has served as an inspiration to many European players.
In a recent interview, Dirk Nowitzki praised Giannis Antetokounmpo for continuously improving, stating that Antetokounmpo’s “skill level improved” and adding that “he seems very hungry” to get even better.
Dirk Nowitzki on @Giannis_An34 and the similarities of their careers, from the second division to the NBA championship pic.twitter.com/QXECmHW1Bt
— Harris Stavrou (@harris_stavrou) September 5, 2022
“Just to see the growth from 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. So, it has been a wonderful journey for him. Obviously, MVP and champion already. I am really happy for him. He is a good kid. And he keeps working hard and keeps getting better. I am a big fan.”
It remains to be seen what sort of new additions Giannis Antetokounmpo ends up making to his game. His only major weakness is his shooting, and perhaps we’ll see him improve in that department ahead of next season.
The Milwaukee Bucks should be contenders next season, but they will need to go through some tough teams to get back to the NBA Finals. With Giannis Antetokounmpo present, though, they will be confident in their chances.
