Despite Falling Short of Shaquille O’Neal, Giannis Antetokounmpo Left an NBA Veteran Stunned in 2022

It is no wonder that Greek Freak Giannis Antetokounmpo is often compared to Shaquille O’Neal, who was one of the most dominating players ever. Over the years, many have made this comparison. The 1996 Rookie of the Year Damon Stoudamire had something to say about it as well. Even though he felt Giannis fell short of the Hall of Famer in one category, he was still stunned.

The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets head coach recently made an appearance on the Big Shot with Bob podcast with Robert Horry. During the show, Stoudamire claimed the Clemson Tigers might be a more physical team than most teams in the NBA other than the Milwaukee Bucks solely because of the Greek Freak.

Stoudamire, who served as an assistant coach for the Boston Celtics from 2021 to 2023, stated, “When we played Milwaukee in the playoffs in my first year in Boston, I thought Giannis was Shaq but dribbling. I think he put the most pressure on anybody in the NBA. I think he is the hardest person to call in the NBA. Because he puts so much pressure on you going downhill.”

He argued that nobody would want to defend Giannis on a fastbreak because of the lack of physicality in the league. He added, “Yes, he’s not as big as Shaq but he was like Shaq dribbling coming at you full speed. Like, what do you do?”

Even though the 2x NBA MVP is relatively smaller than O’Neal, the 50-year-old felt he was unstoppable at times. He was talking about the 2021-22 Eastern Conference Semi-Finals when the Bucks lost to Boston.

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Giannis Antetokounmpo left everyone in awe despite the loss

Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks to the title during the 2020-21 season. It was the first time the Bucks won a ring in 50 years. So, there was a massive expectation for the team to do well the next year as well. However, the reigning champions were struggling with the absence of Khris Middleton. After eliminating the Chicago Bulls 4-1 in the first round, the Bucks faced the Celtics next.

The Celtics were out for revenge for the playoff defeat in 2019. With Antetokounmpo’s impressive performances, the series went to game 7. Giannis led both teams in points (33.9) and rebounds (14.7). However, it was not enough as the Celtics clinched the series. Despite the loss, the 8x NBA All-Star left a lasting impression even on Boston’s staff, including Stoudamire.

Do you agree with Damon that Giannis is just Shaquille O’Neal with handles? Let us know in the comments below.

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