Welcome to the NBA 75, The Athletic’s countdown of the 75 best players in NBA history, in honor of the league’s diamond anniversary. We’ll unveil a new player on the list every weekday through Feb. 18, culminating with the man picked by a panel of The Athletic NBA staff members as the greatest of all time.
Giannis Antetokounmpo could not believe it.
Following the Bucks’ 103-96 loss to the Raptors on Saturday, he was handed The Athletic’s list of the 75 greatest NBA players of all time. After seeing his bolded and circled name, he looked through the other names and the players ranked ahead and behind him.
“They got me at 24?” Antetokounmpo asked. “I’m 24? Pfffffffffffffffffffff.”
Antetokounmpo walked to the hallway with the list in his hand.
“Ahhhhhhhhh,” Antetokounmpo exclaimed. “You’re playing with me?”
While Antetokounmpo is the youngest player on The Athletic’s list, his placement on the list is no mistake.
In his first eight NBA seasons, Antetokounmpo has appeared in five NBA All-Star Games. He’s made five All-NBA teams, four All-Defensive teams and an All-Rookie team. He won the 2016-17 Most Improved Player award and the 2019-20 Defensive Player of the Year award. He won NBA MVPs in 2019 and 2020 and then he won 2021 NBA Finals MVP as he secured his first championship ring in July, the Bucks’ first NBA championship since 1971.