In the first episode of the podcast “48 minutes”, Giannis Antetokounmpo not only defended Noah Lyles in the “ World champion of what?! », since he also announced that he would train in the coming weeks with a certain… Hakeem Olajuwon.
“ For the training camp, I have a trip planned which will take me to Houston and where I will try to train with Hakeem Olajuwon » reveals the player Bucks. “ If I can steal a few tricks from his game or learn anything from the days I spend with him, then that will be a blessing.. He is someone I looked up to all my life and who my parents looked up to as well, because he was the number one in Nigeria. He was the best sportsman in Africa. »
A true icon of African sport with whom Giannis Antetokounmpo shares, in addition to Nigerian origins, some other similarities. Indeed, like Hakeem Olajuwon, the “Greek Freak” achieved the MVP/DPOY double the same year, in addition to wearing number 34 and being crowned champion with the team that drafted him.
“He is one of the best international players in history and he is undoubtedly the best African player of all time”
“ It’s a huge compliment to be quoted in the same sentence as Hakeem Olajuwon », declares the strong winger of Milwaukee. “ He is one of the best international players in history and he is undoubtedly the best African player of all time. I always loved his game, I always tried to study him and I always loved that he did things the right way. That is to say, he stayed with his teammates and he won two titles. »
Renowned in particular for his mastery of post play and footworkthe legendary Hakeem Olajuwon has been able to advise many renowned players since his retirement in 2002.
From Kobe Bryant to LeBron James, including Kevin Garnett, Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard and Amar’e Stoudemire. Without forgetting… Giannis Antetokounmpo in 2015!
A Giannis Antetokounmpo who at the same time confirms his comments from 2021, when he confided that he did not want to train with active players.
“ I don’t want anything to hold me back. I want to look forward and improve. This is why I don’t train with other players. I don’t want to be friends with them. If I do that and have coffee with them, can I then go out on the field and use my elbows against them? Can I counter or dunk on them? I can’t, because I’m authentic. If I love someone, I also love them on the pitch. I am fully aware of this and I do not want to put myself in this position. »
Giannis Antetokounmpo | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
2013-14 | MIL | 77 | 25 | 41.4 | 34.7 | 68.3 | 1.0 | 3.4 | 4.4 | 2.0 | 2.3 | 0.8 | 1.6 | 0.8 | 6.8 |
2014-15 | MIL | 81 | 31 | 49.1 | 15.9 | 74.1 | 1.2 | 5.5 | 6.7 | 2.6 | 3.1 | 0.9 | 2.1 | 1.1 | 12.7 |
2015-16 | MIL | 80 | 35 | 50.6 | 25.7 | 72.4 | 1.4 | 6.2 | 7.7 | 4.3 | 3.2 | 1.2 | 2.6 | 1.4 | 16.9 |
2016-17 | MIL | 80 | 36 | 52.1 | 27.2 | 77.0 | 1.8 | 7.0 | 8.8 | 5.4 | 3.1 | 1.6 | 2.9 | 1.9 | 22.9 |
2017-18 | MIL | 75 | 37 | 52.9 | 30.7 | 76.0 | 2.1 | 8.0 | 10.0 | 4.8 | 3.1 | 1.5 | 3.0 | 1.4 | 26.9 |
2018-19 ★ | MIL | 72 | 33 | 57.8 | 25.6 | 72.9 | 2.2 | 10.3 | 12.5 | 5.9 | 3.2 | 1.3 | 3.7 | 1.5 | 27.7 |
2019-20 ★ | MIL | 63 | 30 | 55.3 | 30.4 | 63.3 | 2.2 | 11.4 | 13.6 | 5.6 | 3.1 | 1.0 | 3.7 | 1.1 | 29.5 |
2020-21 | MIL | 61 | 33 | 56.9 | 30.3 | 68.5 | 1.6 | 9.4 | 11.0 | 5.9 | 2.8 | 1.2 | 3.4 | 1.2 | 28.2 |
2021-22 | MIL | 67 | 33 | 55.3 | 29.3 | 72.2 | 2.0 | 9.6 | 11.6 | 5.8 | 3.2 | 1.1 | 3.3 | 1.4 | 29.9 |
2022-23 | MIL | 63 | 32 | 55.3 | 27.5 | 64.5 | 2.2 | 9.6 | 11.8 | 5.7 | 3.1 | 0.8 | 3.9 | 0.8 | 31.1 |
Total | 719 | 33 | 53.7 | 28.7 | 70.8 | 1.8 | 7.8 | 9.6 | 4.7 | 3.0 | 1.1 | 3.0 | 1.3 | 22.6 |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.