Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo dunks during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Orlando Magic Monday, Dec. 9, 2019, in Milwaukee. The Bucks won 110-101. (AP Photo/Morry Gash) ORG XMIT: WIMG120
Giannis Antetokounmpo explained the difference between the European game and the NBA while speaking to the press on the Milwaukee Bucks’ media day ahead of the new season.
Giannis Antetokounmpo addressed the media on the customary media day for the Milwaukee Bucks ahead of the upcoming 2022/23 season. Fresh off playing in the EuroBasket 2022 tournament for the Greek national team, the Greek Freak did media duty for the Bucks – and being the franchise player of the team, he certainly had plenty of questions to answer.
One of the most interesting questions that he was asked in the press conference was how different is the European game from the one in the NBA. It made perfect sense to ask this question to someone of Giannis’ calibre – someone who is proven both in the NBA as a former champion as well as in the European game – and Giannis certainly had reasoning for his answer.
When asked about the differences between Europe and the NBA, Antetokounmpo took the former’s side and said that the game in Europe is harder than the NBA.
The Greek Freak said “The game in Europe is way harder than the NBA, and I don’t mean it as disrespect. The talent obviously in the NBA is way higher, but the space is just – you get a lot of lanes to drive the ball, a lot of lanes to create – while you don’t get any of that in Europe.”
“The game is more physical and offers less space in Europe, and is harder than the NBA. So I think, playing there always prepares me for the NBA. Playing in less space prepares me for the NBA, so when I go to the NBA – I find so much space to create for my team and myself.”
The 28 year old – recently ranked by ESPN as the Best Player in the NBA – will certainly hope to prove his mettle and reclaim the NBA Championship that he won in 2021.
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