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Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo Reflects On 20K Milestone

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Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo scores 20,000th point

As the Milwaukee Bucks added insult to injury, defeating the downtrodden Dallas Mavericks in a 30-point blowout, Giannis Antetokounmpo was putting forth another spectacular performance. In just 25 minutes, the two-time NBA MVP amassed 32 points, 15 rebounds, and four assists. Even more impressively, he ended his night having reached a major milestone: 20,000 career points.

Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo Reflects On 20K Milestone

After the game, Antetokounmpo was asked about his latest accomplishment.

“I feel like before I came to the NBA, I had to be locked (in),” he says. “When I came to the NBA, I looked around me and said the only way I can make it in this league is by working hard and I have to show up every single day. I had conversations with great players… and they told me that the best players –the greats –never get bored.

“And as I worked… I got to a point that I realized what separates me from the other players around me and the people that played the game is my heart, my spirit, my work ethic, and how disciplined I am…”

Antetokoumpo was also presented with the list of players who reached 20,000 career points before him: Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James; Hall of Fame wing Kobe Bryant; Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant; Hall of Fame center Wilt Chamberlain; and Hall of Fame wing Michael Jordan.

“I’m going to get there,” he responds when asked about reaching 30,000 points. “For sure. 1,000 percent.”

“I don’t know how I’ll do it but I’m going to show up everyday and I’m going to do it,” he adds.

Greek Freak = American Dream

Now, here’s another factoid for your next trivia night.

Out of the 56 NBA players with 20,000 career points, only five have starred for the Bucks: Antetokoumpo, Damian Lillard, Ray Allen, Oscar Roberston, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Of those five players, only Antetokounmpo was drafted outside the top-10. The 15th overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, Antetokounmpo’s also the only member of that quintet to be born outside of the United States.

That being said, it’s been quite a ride for the now 30-year-old.

As he says: “I don’t think about the moment that I got my 20-thousandth point. I think about everything I had to go through in my life to be able to be in this position.”

Obviously, Antetokoumpo’s life is well-documented. There’s not only a biography but a biopic about his life. The child of Nigerian immigrants who relocated to Greece, he grew up impoverished. Furthermore, he only began playing basketball at 14 years old. After being drafted by the Bucks, he worked tirelessly to become of the most accomplished players in NBA history.

It’s a rag to riches story. The prototypical American dream. An inspiration.

It’s amazing to think that he likely isn’t even close to the final chapter.

© Benny Sieu-Imagn Images

The post Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo Reflects On 20K Milestone appeared first on Last Word On Basketball.