Giannis Antetokounmpo finally responded to LeBron James’ recent comments about him, which sparked plenty of reactions across the basketball world.
It’s rare to receive such high praise from an NBA legend, and fans were eager to hear Antetokounmpo’s reaction.
Giannis Antetokounmpo Doubles Down on LeBron James’ Praise
The Milwaukee Bucks star is widely regarded as one of the best players in the game today. Though it has been a while since the Bucks won a title, Antetokounmpo’s individual greatness is undeniable. Anyone who has shared the court with him, including James, knows this firsthand.
James’ comments on various topics have dominated NBA discussions in recent days, particularly since his exchange with Stephen A. Smith and his criticism of the league’s media coverage.
The Los Angeles Lakers star made a surprise appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show,” where he touched on Smith, the media, and the evolution of the game. At one point, James claimed that if Antetokounmpo played in the 1970s, he would have been able to score 250 points in a single game — a staggering statement, even as a compliment.
When he sat down for a postgame interview, Antetokounmpo was asked about James’ praise and his own personal response to the four-time NBA champions’ opinion.
“You know I’ll say — yeah, I don’t know about that take. I think it’s a wrong take. Yeah, I don’t know,” Antetokounmpo said. “I think if I played in the ’70s, it probably be more of 275 not 250,” he joked.
“Great compliment, but I don’t like comparing eras. It’s not fair. If I played in the ’70s, how everybody practiced and how everybody played, we would have played the same way.”
“You know that’s all you knew at the time, and the game evolves. We have gotten to 2020, and we know more. People shoot the ball from halfcourt. … It’s totally different, right? So you cannot compare this era with that era. You know, I wish in this era that I play right now, 2025, I wish I could score 250 points today,” Antetokounmpo concluded with an air of hopefulness.
Antetokounmpo’s response provided a reality check for fans who might take James’ words literally. While it’s fun to imagine, scoring 250 points in a single game, even against inexperienced players, is nearly impossible unless Antetokounmpo played against toddlers.
James’ statement indicating that Antetokounmpo could do the same against professional athletes from any era in a 48-minute game is ridiculous.
Although Antetokounmpo doubled down on it to be funny, he clearly doesn’t believe that he could do the same. Perhaps James should consider using a more realistic number next time.