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Jamal CollierMar 6, 2025, 12:38 AM ET
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- Jamal Collier is an NBA reporter at ESPN. Collier covers the Milwaukee Greenbacks, Chicago Bulls and the Midwest area of the NBA, together with tales similar to Minnesota’s iconic jersey switch between Anthony Edwards and Justin Jefferson. He has been at ESPN since Sept. 2021 and in the past coated the Bulls for the Chicago Tribune. You’ll achieve out to Jamal on Twitter @JamalCollier or by means of e-mail Jamal.Collier@espn.com.
MILWAUKEE — As Giannis Antetokounmpo thought to be his newest profession milestone, changing into the sixth-youngest participant in NBA historical past to achieve 20,000 profession facets all the way through the Greenbacks’ 137-107 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday evening, he mirrored on all he has long past thru to reach so far.
“I all the time glance again at myself, and I do not need to say I am getting emotional, however it is a just right feeling,” Antetokounmpo stated after the sport. “I am happy with the adventure, however I’ve so a lot more to provide.”
Antetokounmpo reached the milestone within the 3rd quarter Wednesday evening whilst striking up 32 facets and 15 rebounds in 25 mins in Milwaukee’s blowout victory.
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The workforce performed a tribute video to Antetokounmpo at the video board after the milestone, even though Antetokounmpo joked that trainer Document Rivers saved distracting him all the way through the timeout so he may no longer watch it.
“He saved announcing, ‘Giannis, Giannis, center of attention at the play,'” Antetokounmpo stated with fun. “Like, Trainer, you [don’t] get numerous 20,000-points moments to your profession.”
Wednesday’s victory was once the Greenbacks’ fourth immediately and the 8th of their previous 9 video games. They advanced to a season-best 11 video games over .500, a stark turnaround following their 2-8 begin to the season.
Antetokounmpo stated he was once happy with the conduct his workforce was once beginning to construct, particularly for the reason that All-Famous person ruin. Damian Lillard scored 34 facets, the fifteenth time each he and Antetokounmpo have scored a minimum of 30 facets in a recreation since changing into teammates, the 3rd maximum by way of a duo of their first two seasons in NBA historical past, in line with ESPN Analysis.
When Antetokounmpo were given again to the bench after attaining the milestone, which Lillard completed ultimate December, Lillard had a easy message: Welcome to the membership.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, who grew to become 30 in December, stated he’s “1,000%” making plans to achieve the 30,000-point milestone. Picture by way of Gary Dineen/NBAE by means of Getty Photographs
“This can be a make a selection team of men that for a decade-plus have simply been striking it in combination once a year getting higher, acting towards the scouting file, simply appearing up evening in and evening out and doing it over a protracted, lengthy time frame,” Lillard stated after the sport. “Everyone knows the names. Clearly, to get to twenty,000 facets is not only being a man that has alternative. You were given to stay getting higher. You were given to head towards the most efficient defenders, you were given to head towards the scouting experiences, you were given to maintain your self and be to be had.”
Antetokounmpo may be the 7th participant born outdoor the U.S. to attain 20,000 facets, in line with ESPN Analysis. He stated he thought of all he sacrificed so as to get so far, together with his humble beginnings in Greece prior to he grew to become himself into an NBA celebrity.
“I’m hoping numerous folks see me, and I constitute the folk that may no longer have all of it,” Antetokounmpo stated. “May not be probably the most proficient folks, however they’re disciplined. They display up each unmarried evening to do the appropriate factor, regardless of the end result. They preserve on coming again and stay on being disciplined of their craft. So I’m hoping I will constitute all the ones folks.”
Antetokounmpo stated the milestone supposed so much to him, and he additionally favored how tough it was once for the folk forward of him at the record.
“This can be a lot. It is numerous facets,” he stated. “I will’t believe those who rating 30,000 like KD. Or LeBron, rating [50,000] facets. You were given to acknowledge, that is greatness.”
However Antetokounmpo, who grew to become 30 in December, additionally made it recognized he isn’t performed. When requested if he deliberate to achieve 30,000, he answered, “A thousand %.”
“I will get there,” he stated. “I do not know the way I will do it, however I’ll display up each unmarried day and I’ll do it. It isn’t a function of mine. I don’t believe it counts to your legacy should you rating 25,000 or 27 or 30,000. Successful counts extra.
“I am 30 years outdated. I’ve such a lot to provide. I am converting my recreation. I am changing into extra environment friendly, more practical. I’ve such a lot to be told, and I’m simply going to check out to concentrate on that. So with a bit of luck I will have any other video with out being interrupted.”
