Celtics ’08 Hero Claims 2x MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo Wouldn’t Be a Problem for Him, Names Only Two Current Players Who Would

The Greek Freak, Giannis Antetokounmpo, is a 7x NBA All-Star who also led the Milwaukee Bucks to their 2021 championship win. Antetokounmpo is the first player to finish a regular season in the top 20 of all five statistics, including total points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks. Giannis Antetokounmpo ranks 7 on the list of high-paid NBA players this season. 

Yet, certain NBA veterans aren’t really afraid of Antetokounmpo’s game. Recently, a former player from the 2008 Championship Winning Boston Celtics, who is now a sports analyst for ESPN, dismissed Antetokounmpo as his threat and said “he would give me no problems” on the court. 

Perkins ignores Antetokounmpo’s prowess

Kendrick Perkins, a Texas native who played in the NBA from 2003 to 2011, cameoed in an episode of the Pat Bev Podcast with Rone. Kendrick Perkins, who bagged an NBA championship win in 2008, thinks that he could easily “hang” with the league’s current players. Perk bitingly admits, “The only two people that would give me problems are Jokić and Embiid…” 

It is quite obvious that Perk regards the prowess of players like Nikola Jokić and Joel Embiid to be more prominent. Surprisingly, Prek scraped off ‘The Greek Freak’s name from the list of players that could be difficult for him. “Giannis wouldn’t even give me problems.”

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Perk’s choice was indeed a shocker. Because Antetokounmpo has proved his worth on the court time and again. The Greek Freak over the course of 10 NBA seasons had won as many MVPs and titles as Jokic, and one more than Embiid.

Perk appreciates the power of a good defense

Granted, titles and accolades don’t necessarily translate into skills. However, Antetokounmpo’s player stats are immaculate. This season, the Bucks’ MVP outdid himself with 31.1 points per game, 11.8 rebounds, and 5.7 assists. 

On the flip side, Perk has played the league when a good defense could make or break the game. As he rightly says, “And on top of that, I’ve seen better, you’ve got to realize, I’m going against guys like…Shaq, Tim Duncan, Rasheed Wallace, Vin Baker, Jermaine O’Neal…like you had to defend…” Perk believes he comes from a generation that could guard anyone–even giants like Shaquille O’Neal. 

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Hence, the premise of Perks’ comment is rooted in his experience. Today, the NBA league is transforming. Players with a quick pace and great shooting ability are highly favored. In this scenario, Perk still considers defense to be a pivotal skill.

By discarding Giannis Antetokounmpo, Perk wasn’t necessarily belittling him. Rather, he was trying to prove how his skillset, developed over the years, could easily slow down the fastest shooters.