“He plays the right way, plays to win. I’ve never seen anything like it.” It’s not easy to startle someone with the caliber of Giannis Antetokounmpo. However, the Greek Freak was only able to hand out this praise after Victor Wembanyama proved his exceptional defensive skills against him in January. Even though the Bucks star dropped 44 points to deliver a 125-121 win to his team, it certainly made an impression on him when the 7-foot-4 French rookie physically blocked him and then swatted the ball as he attempted a slam dunk. Giannis remembers this moment even months later, comparing it to only one other player who surprised him like the rookie.

Earlier today, the official Instagram account of The Charles Antetokounmpo Family Foundation (CAFF) featured the Greek Freak playing a round of golf. While doing so, he revealed the “only 2 guys that have blocked my shot straight up.”

As expected, one of them was Wemby himself. The second one was none other than the person who was standing beside him as his golf partner: Anthony Tolliver. As the former Warriors hooper let out a laugh, Giannis continued by revealing, “I had you with the left hand, and all of a sudden you just Boom! Throw it down, it was like….” Tolliver finished the sentence for him by saying, “‘What just happened?’”

It occurred in February 2019, when Anthony Tolliver was playing his final season for the Timberwolves. At 24, Giannis was coming off a fresh MVP title and was leading the league for dunks made in that season. During the second quarter of the game between the Bucks and the Timberwolves, the Greek Freak stood at the baseline, ready to make a highlight-reel slam. The ball came to him- he dashed to the basket and leaped. Tolliver, who was on the other end, dashed, leaped as high as his rival, and stunningly denied him the points.

The commentators were in shock, loudly exclaiming “Anthony Tolliver since he’s come into the game, he has completely changed the game.” NBC Sports even went on to compare Tolliver’s block on the same line of “Adam Sandler winning a Best Actor Oscar.”

The night was not all bad for Giannis, as he delivered 27 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists to help the Bucks with a 140-128 win. Despite this, it was hard to deny the Wolves hooper the highlight of the game! Tolliver himself had contributed 17 points.

Giannis chose to stay silent about the block for 5 years and didn’t immediately send out praises like he did for Wemby. The French rookie, in turn, accepted all the flowers he got for the block, but also stayed humble to not undermine “one of the greatest players in the world.”

Victor Wembanyama reveals it was a tough task to block Giannis Antetokounmpo: “Just like a ‘dumb battle’”

The San Antonio Spurs walked away with the 5th-worst record of the 2023-24 NBA season. However, this did not lower any number of praises that came Wemby’s way for his first season. Breaking more than 12 prominent records, including being the youngest to achieve a triple-double with double-digit block, and without a turnover, the block against Giannis was just another highlight for the 2024 Rookie of the Year. However, engaging in the act wasn’t as easy as some saw it happening from afar.

On ‘The Ringer’ back in April, Victor Wembanyama revealed “I’m not sure maybe without the adrenaline, it might have hurt afterward. I think I know some people can die from that, but you know it was just like a ‘dumb battle.’”

“Strength against strength and I had to resist as much as I could. I don’t think I could stop him, but I had to absorb the contact as much as I could. I think I did the best at a job I could, but I’m proud to be at this level this year because before I wouldn’t have been able to absorb this contact for sure,” the Frenchman concluded.

If the player really felt like this, he didn’t make it immediately known after the January game. Instead, he simply handed out his praise of Giannis by stating, “He’s somebody I grew up watching and one of the greatest players in the world. It’s always extra motivation. I know I’m a competitor. So, I want to go at everyone and be the bad guy on the court.” With the expectations on Wembanyama only increasing for the upcoming season, it remains to be seen whether another feat like the block will be seen again in the near future.

Before you go, remember to check out this crossover between BG12 and Georgia Bulldogs star Silas Demary Jr.