?I?m Not As Talented as Steph?: Giannis Antetokounmpo?s Underdog Statement Catches Harsh Reality From US Legend

Size, speed, strength, ball handling skills. This Milwaukee Bucks‘ power forward has all the boxes ticked to be an NBA great. He has also won the NBA Most Valuable Player award twice. But despite all his laurels, Giannis Antetokounmpo puts himself below his fellow NBA players Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant, in terms of talent. This sentiment, however, has now found a harsh response from a US track and field legend.

Michael Johnson, the winner of 4 Olympic gold medals, is a firm believer in the fact that it requires an immense amount of hard work and talent, and not just either one, to make it in the NBA. Hence, an underdog statement like the one Antetokounmpo made, he believes should be outdated by now.

Michael Johnson slams “underdog mentality”

Michael Johnson took to his Twitter and wrote, “I see his point, but the whole underdog mentality and ?my success is due to hard work? attitude coming from extraordinarily talented people acting as if they have little or no talent has gotten old”. Johnson’s harsh statement on Antetokounmkpo’s month-old confession puts a reality check on such a sentiment.

To give context, Giannis Antetokounmpo gave an interview with The Athletic on March 16, 2023. There, he talked about Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant among others. He told the Athletic, “I?m not as talented as KD (Kevin Durant). I?m fu**ing desperate. I?m obsessed. I?m scared to lose what God has gave me and the life that I?ve provided for my kids and my brothers and for my mom, you know? I?m scared. So I fu**ing work as hard as I can because I don?t want to lose this sh**”. However, Johnson suggested that skillful players shouldn’t just chalk up their success to hard work, but also recognize their own exceptional and inherent talent. He believes players, irrespective of where they stand with regard to each other, are all immensely talented and are the chosen few to represent their teams.

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Antetokounmpo’s confession comes from a place of high ambition in achieving more than just MVP trophies mixed with a keen sense of where he actually stands among others. However, Johnson still believes that NBA players with extraordinary talent should reserve such statements.

Giannis Antetokounmpo hails Stephen Curry for his magical skills

Giannis Antetokounmpo has not only won the MVP award in 2019 and 2020 but also won the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy in 2021 with Milwaukee Bucks. However, he believes that players like Stephen Curry, of the Golden State Warriors, at age 35 create art in the air with the basketball. Antetokounmpo also puts Durant, of the Phoenix Suns, on the same level of talent.?

Antetokounmpo suffered a lower back contusion during the Bucks’? match against Miami Heat this season and exited at just 11 minutes. He sat out for the rest of the 2nd half as Heat beat them 130-117. Coincidentally, there were also injury worries for him in 2021 when the Bucks played against the Heat. The powerhouse will definitely be looking to make a comeback soon. What do you think of Johnson’s comments? Do you agree? Let us know in the comments.

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