By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Focused on Greece and the senior national team aiming for an extended run in the approaching 2022 EuroBasket, Giannis Antetokounmpo is also heading to his tenth season in the NBA.
It is going to be one full decade since 2013 when the Milwaukee Bucks picked him up with the 15th overall pick of the NBA draft. An amazing story to that point of his life, as detailed in the biopic Rise produced by Walt Disney Pictures. From there, the crowning achievement of his career was winning the NBA championship in 2021. Apparently, there is more to come.
“I’m an old soul,” he told NBC Sports discussing his nine-year experience in the NBA, “Like, in my mind I feel like I’ve been a vet five years now. But like my body… I have so much energy. I’m so hungry to accomplish more. I want to go out there and help you know my team in the best way possible. And a lot of people know that I’m a winner. I love to win. I love to go out there and leave everything on the court.”
“But definitely I agree with you that people don’t think I’ve been ten years in the league and they see me as kind of the young guy,” he added, “You know the new guy on the block but it’s okay, you know, but at the end of the day, I won’t go out there and do the best job possible and try to win games.”
The 2021 Finals MVP is determined to keep Milwaukee among the championship contenders. Looking back, he talked about how he has evolved throughout his solid career in the NBA and his intentions to keep getting better.
“I definitely feel different,” the Greek Freak said recalling his early years in Milwaukee, “When I was 18 I was eating cheeseburgers and drinking Mountain Dews and, you know, sodas, but as you as you grow older, you realize that you want to have a long life and a healthy life. And I definitely take care of my body as much as I can. I invest in myself. The best investment you can do is in yourself, to invest in yourself.”
“I really am not one of those persons to, you know, kind of share our conversation. But yeah, he talked a little bit about it. You know, just being a kid. Always be curious. Always ask questions,” he mentioned remembering Kobe Bryant and his advice, “Always trying to improve and he did that until he was 38 years old and even after basketball he was trying to always improve.”
Photo Credit: Getty Images