By Giannis Rammas/ info@eurohoops.net
Giannis Antetokounmpo is ready to make history as the youngest international starter in the NBA All-Star Game.
What Giannis is expected to achieve has no precedent. The 22-year old forward of the Bucks is ready to break the record of Chinese Yao Ming (Rockets 2002-11), who was a starter for the West back in 2003 at the age of 22 years, 4 months and 28 days.
On the 19th of February at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans the Greek Freak will be 22 years, 2 months and 13 days!
Russian Andrey Kirilenko (Jazz 2001-11, 2012-13 Timberwolves and Nets 2013-14) is the youngest European to participate as a reserve back in 2004 at the age of 22 years, 11 months and 28 days. Dirk Nowitzki (Mavericks 1998-present) is the first European starter (2007), but when he was 29 years old, substituting the injured Yao Ming, who was voted as usual to be part of the starting five.
The absolute age record belongs to Kobe Bryant (Lakers from 1996 to 2016) as a starter back in 1998 at the age of 19 years, 5 months and 16 days. He still is the only teenager who has achieved that.