By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Giannis Antetokounmpo became the 52nd player to reach 20,000 career points and the sixth youngest.
On Wednesday, the Freak piled up 32 points with 13/20 field goals, pushing the Milwaukee Bucks to a blowout win, 137-107, against the depleted Dallas Mavericks in Fiserv Forum.
“Being able to experience this moment, again I don’t think about only this moment that I got 20,000 points, I think about everything I had to go through in my life to be in this position. Before basketball. When I started playing basketball at 14. When I got to the NBA. All those moments that I had to sacrifice for my family, moments that I was in pain and kept playing. Moments that I’ve been disappointed and unable to accomplish what I want to accomplish,” he began in a postgame press conference.
“I represent the people that might not have it all, that might not be the most talented people, but are disciplined, show up every single night to do the right thing. No matter the outcome, they keep on coming back and keep on being disciplined in their craft. I hope I can represent those people. I know a lot of kids in the league watch Kyrie Irving, who is an incredible player, Ja Morant, Klay Thompson, who we played tonight, Steph Curry, and all those people who have a gift. As I said, I hope other people watch me and how I got to my 20,000 points and understand I was humble, I was able to listen to my previous head coach and my current head coach that helped me in my career, teammates like Jared Dudley when he got me at 19 and convinced me to move out of my apartment that I was living with my mom and I had to get my own apartment, because he said, ‘You’re 19-20 years old, you never might be able to bring a girl back home,’ and I’m like that’s not what I want to do,” continued Giannis, “I’m happy for this moment. I hope a lot of people that work hard accomplish this moment because it feels good. I hope other people can feel the same.”
Only LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Kobe Bryant, Wilt Chamberlain, and Michael Jordan hit the 20,000-point milestone younger than the Greek international superstar.
“For sure, 1,000%. I will get there,” the 30-year-old big reassured he intends to follow their example and eventually reach 30,000 points in the NBA Regular Season, “I don’t know how I will do it. I will show up every single day, and I’m going to do it. It’s not a goal of mine. I don’t think it counts in your legacy if you score 25,000 or 27,000 or 30,000 points. I think winning counts more in your legacy.”
Lasting just under 25 minutes, Giannis grabbed 15 rebounds to post a double-double, dished out four assists, and registered one steal.
“We’re playing good basketball, we trust one another, I feel like we are defending better, keep one another accountable,” he mentioned on his side improving to 36-25 in the 2024-25 Regular Season with an eighth win over the last nine outings.
A three-game homestand for the team coached by Doc Rivers additionally features the Orlando Magic on the next edition of NBA Saturdays and the Cleveland Cavaliers on NBA Sundays.