There are very few active NBA players as decorated and with the accolades of Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Milwaukee Bucks forward has accomplished quite a bit, and he is not even yet 30 years old (turns 30 on December 6).
Through his first 11 seasons in the NBA, Antetokounmpo has built quite the resume. Back-to-back MVP winner in 2018-19 and 2019-20. Defensive Player of the Year in 2019-20. Most Improved Player in 2016-17. Eight All-Star, eight All-NBA, and five All-Defensive appearances. Most importantly, a NBA champion in 2021 where he was named Finals MVP.
Antetokounmpo hasn’t seen his play deteriorate at all. One NBA legend puts him lower on the Eastern Conference hierarchy than many others would though.
NBA Legend Calls Antetokounmpo ‘4th Best In East’
Garnett Doesn’t Put Giannis At The Top Of The East
Kevin Garnett, Basketball Hall of Famer, currently co-hosts a podcast with his former Boston Celtics teammate Paul Pierce entitled TICKET & THE TRUTH. The question of whether Antetokounmpo is the best player in the Eastern Conference was brought up on their most-recent podcast, and this is what Garnett had to say.
“You can’t say that with [Joel] Embiid over there. And with Jayson Tatum over there. I’m not arguing that. He’s probably like the fourth-best player in the East.”
While Garnett did name two players he’d rank over Antetokounmpo, he never named a third. So yes, the 2003-04 MVP said Antetokounmpo is probably the fourth-best, but perhaps he realized he couldn’t name a third player in the East that is better.
Nobody can question how dominant a player Embiid is. The 2022-23 MVP won two-straight scoring titles, and he was on his way to a third last season prior to getting hurt. There’s a dark cloud that hangs over Embiid though, his availability. Since being drafted third overall in 2014, he has only appeared in 433 regular season games. Embiid has also never helped guide his Philadelphia 76ers past the second round of the playoffs.
Tatum is part of the reigning champion Celtics. He has finished top-six in MVP voting each of the past three seasons. While he still played excellent all-around, Tatum didn’t score the ball all that efficiently in the playoffs. His teammate Jaylen Brown was named Eastern Conference Finals and Finals MVP over him (both in close votes). While Tatum won a gold medal for Team USA, there was the whole controversy over his (lack of) playing time which included a couple DNP – Coach’s Decisions.
Season Of Redemption For The Greek Freak?
Entering his 12th NBA season, Antetokounmpo remains dominant in the regular season. In 73 outings last season, he finished with stellar averages of 30.4 points, 11.5 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.1 blocks. Antetokounmpo finished fourth in MVP voting, the sixth straight season that he has landed in the top-four.
Milwaukee hasn’t experienced much playoff success though since that 2021 championship. They won one postseason round in 2022, but have been eliminated in the first round the last two seasons. Antetokounmpo missed two of the five playoff games in 2023 with a back injury against the Miami Heat. He missed the entire series in 2024 against the Indiana Pacers with a left calf strain.
Fans of the Bucks sure hope Antetokounmpo can remain healthy come playoff time, and they can make an extended run in Year 2 with Damian Lillard. Maybe then, those like Garnett will once again see Antetokounmpo as the best in the East.
