LeBron James recently generated a lot of buzz throughout the basketball community after making strong statements about Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo and how he would perform in a different era.
While it’s almost always impossible—or even unfair—to compare different eras of basketball, the NBA world does it constantly. Would Jordan score as well in today’s game? How would James’ athleticism hold up in the more physical ’90s?
The Los Angeles Lakers star clearly has his own opinions on the subject. When asked how Antetokounmpo would fare in the 1970s, James held nothing back as he shared his opinion.
LeBron James Thinks Giannis Antetokounmpo Would Dominate NBA Players From the 1970s
To no surprise, the four-time NBA champion didn’t hesitate to back Antetokounmpo when asked if the Bucks star would succeed in the 1970s.
Although the ’80s and ’90s are considered more physical eras, modern fans often look down on the ’70s. The style of play and movement back then are widely viewed as inferior to today’s standards.
There’s little doubt Antetokounmpo would thrive in any era, but James took it a step further, claiming Giannis would post record-breaking numbers.
“You tryna tell me that Giannis wouldn’t be able to play an NBA game in the ’70s? Giannis would have 250 points in a game in the ’70s.”
Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point performance remains the official record for most points in a single NBA game, although no video footage of that game exists.
James is widely regarded as a basketball genius, so his claim—while over the top—carries some weight. The average height, speed, and strength of today’s players are far ahead of what the league saw in the ’70s. Players like Antetokounmpo and Kyrie Irving would likely appear superhuman to that era’s competition.
Antetokounmpo is a rare blend of size and athleticism. In an era with little transition scoring, it’s hard to guess how many points he could post. While 250 might be an exaggeration, saying he could match or surpass Chamberlain’s 100-point game isn’t a stretch.
Antetokounmpo is having another remarkable year for the Milwaukee Bucks alongside Damian Lillard. After an underwhelming start to the season, Milwaukee currently holds the 5-seed in the Eastern Conference with a 40-31 record, with Antetokunmpo averaging 30.2 points, 12 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game.
Of course, there’s no real way to prove it. But the debate about how stars from different generations would perform will always be a part of NBA conversation.