By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Giannis Antetokounmpo has had one of the most peculiar careers so far among the most important NBA superstars, going straight to the league from the second division in Greece.
However, in a recent interview with For The Win, the two-time NBA MVP revealed he was close to playing college basketball back in 2009.
When asked if he has ever wished he had the opportunity to play college basketball, he said he thinks that a lot. “You see all these college players when they make it to the league, they talk about their experience and how fun it was, and how different the environment was for them”, he said.
“I came to the NBA when I was 18. I didn’t have the opportunity to experience being around classmates: Lift weights in the morning, go to class, then go to practice, and see all the fans at the game. I did not have the chance to experience that. I came immediately here. So I would definitely have wanted to go to college and have that experience. When I was 15, I was “highly recruited” by Old Dominion. That was my only offer”, the Greek Freak added.
Also, he shared the place where he would have liked to play if he had that opportunity. “Definitely Duke. I like Duke because of the players that came out of that program. You usually see a lot of four men that don’t fit the mold. I think I’m one of those guys. I’m 6’11” and I can handle the ball and pass the ball and get in the paint. You see a lot of people like that who came out of that program: Zion Williamson, Jabari Parker, Jayson Tatum, and Brandon Ingram. Not only are they very good basketball-wise but academically it’s also a great school”, he explained.
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