The modern NBA game is fairly different from what it used to be. Teams are attempting more threes than ever before. But in this world of deep rangers, there is a dear exception. The Greek Freak has been terrorizing defenses with his overwhelming force. However, this time it’s not his game that’s made the headlines, but his words. “Only one player made the other team create walls for him, and it’s Giannis Antetokounmpo,” he proudly said. Taking aim at the league’s most legendary figures by naming them, the Bucks hooper made it clear he considers himself, one of the ‘greats’ to ever grace the court. 

Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant, and Michael Jordan are just some of the names he compares himself to. His statement has drawn criticism from fans, but a former Miami Heat star has come to his rescue. Hassan Whiteside commented on the post by @nbaonespn on Instagram, “We did have Gannis rules on the Heat,” to defend against the 6’11’’ hooper.

Stan Van Gundy, then-Pistons HC, probably described the ‘wall strategy’ best. “Just form a f—–g wall,” Gundy could be heard shouting to his players during a timeout while playing against the Bucks in 2018. Giannis Antetokounmpo’s go-to scoring methods—cutting, rolling, isolating, and running in transition—help him build momentum. Once he gets that energy going, he turns into an almost unstoppable force. The keyword is almost here. Because the wall strategy did stop him for quite some time.

To make the strategy work, an opposition would need large, powerful, and physical players who close down space and can withstand Giannis’ overwhelming strength. Which would then force the hooper to settle for a low-percentage shot. Using this strategy, particularly, the Heat in the 2020 playoffs held the Bucks to a 4-1 gentleman’s sweep.

After 2 defeats, Giannis Antetokounmpo finally led the Bucks to victory and a series of heartwarming moments followed

The Milwaukee Bucks faced the Chicago Bulls on Monday night. The two-time MVP was the top scorer for his side with 24 points while shooting 16 free throws in just 23 minutes! Well, I guess these numbers aren’t surprising anymore because it’s Giannis.

Even in the preseason, the Bulls couldn’t do anything to stop him, except fouling him. Giannis Antetokounmpo pushed the ball up the court in a 1-on-3 situation and ended up posting up against Josh Giddey. Dame had thrown a pass over the top to the Greek Freak, and 3 Bulls players quickly closed in. Onuralp Bitim was called for a foul, while Josh Giddey kept swinging at Giannis for the ball. On the second swing, he held onto both of Giannis’ arms and wouldn’t let go, which led to the latter shoving Giddey in frustration. 

The referees reviewed the play and concluded that Giddey hadn’t done anything wrong. Bitim was handed a common foul, while Giannis received a technical foul for a “physical taunt” as he tried to fend off Josh who was grabbing his arms and pulling his jersey!

Despite all this commotion, Antetokounmpo was in a good mood after the game and interacted with the fans too. This is where we see the gentle side of the giant greeting a young fan, who had donned a jersey with his name behind it.

The hooper even took a picture with him and gifted him his match-worn sneakers. Amidst all this, another fan walked up to Giannis and he quickly realized they were brothers. He gave the other sibling his jersey. Having 4 brothers himself, the hooper probably realized there would be infighting among them for his shoes. But this wholesome encounter didn’t end there.

“Make sure you take care of your brother, Ok? Always protect him,” Giannis Antetokounmpo heartwarmingly said to the elder brother. We all know how the Greek Freak is a family man and always looks out for his brothers and teammates, on and off the court.

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