Giannis Antetokounmpo has quickly developed the reputation of being the upcoming generational player in the NBA. The six-time NBA All-Star entered the league as the fifth overall pick in the 2011 drafts. And now, experts often compare him to the likes of four-time NBA champ LeBron James. The zeal and the fierceness Antetokounmpo shows every game he plays is a sight to behold. The 2021 NBA champ recently confessed to ‘killing’ Milwaukee Bucks youngster Sandro Mamukelashvili during practice after winning the championship to teach the rookie a valuable lesson.
Sandro Mamukelashvili was selected as the 54th overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. The then-21-year-old rookie first met Giannis Antetokounmpo during the preseason practice camp after the Milwaukee Bucks won their first NBA championship in 2020-21. Giannis was awarded the Finals MVP that season and he joined the training camp a few days after the youngsters came in.
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Mamukelashvili has an outgoing personality as he tried to instill his energy in the team environment. The youngster quickly started joking around and without thinking, he got involved in a brawl with the most respected player on the team.
Giannis Antetokounmpo destroys Bucks rookie for trash talking
Giannis Antetokounmpo recalled the incident with Mamu during his recent interview with the Athletic. Mamu and Giannis had never met before and it was their first encounter. The Bucks center came up to Antetokoumpo and said, “Yo Giannis, I’m gonna shut you down in practice today.”
The two-time MVP was tying his shoelaces and gave Mamu a look of disapproval while Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton witnessed the whole scenario. However, Giannis did not say a word to the rookie. After tying his shoes, Antetokounmpo did his lifting exercises and took his vitamin supplements. Giannis said, “Practice started, I had one target: Mamu. And I killed him.”
Giannis already bullying the rookies on the court. 🤣 pic.twitter.com/e1bzYeSQpY
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) October 7, 2021
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Further, the Bucks’ power forward shared that the team management posted the video of him toying with rookie Mamu on Instagram. Giannis reckoned that the whole video was about him dunking on Mamu, crossing, blocking, and coming back at the rookie. It seemed like Sandro Mamukelashvili made the biggest mistake of his life by messing with a ruthless competitor like Giannis.
Moreover, Antetokounmpo also revealed that he went back to the locker room and reminded Mamu about what he had said before the practice. Giannis added, “And he was like, ‘Uh, yeah.’ And then I went home. That’s how I operate. I don’t talk about the game. I play the game.”
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The incident was a perfect example of the never-dying attitude that Giannis Antetokounmpo possesses. His will to go beyond the edge each time is what has made him great over the past decade. Thus, the 27-year-old would hope to win the Bucks’ season-opening encounter against the Philadelphia 76ers and possibly his second championship this season.