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Giannis Antetokounmpo has developed into one of the best players basketball has seen in recent history. He has also proven to be a true student of the game.
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After being selected 15th overall in the 2013 NBA Draft by the Milwaukee Bucks, Antetokounmpo has been solid in his ascent on his way to becoming the Greek Freak. He has practically won everything there is in the NBA in his 13 years in the league to date, including a championship and the MVP plum twice.
But despite all his success, Antetokounmpo has maintained that what he has become is not all on him. It is also a result of the inspiration he has drawn from the people he has met along the way of his basketball journey, including the NBA greats who helped pave the way for him and other younger players.
Hail to the all-time greats
The now 31-year-old NBA superstar reiterated it in his conversation with his older brother, Thanasis, on the latter’s podcast, highlighting the importance of the role the legends have played in growing the league and the sport, and how they deserve due recognition.
“I love the game of basketball, and I don’t think you can be great if you don’t respect and give flowers to the all-time greats, right? I feel like sometimes people come in, like, the young players, [and not give the legends their credit]. I feel like the only reason I’m here is because of the all-time greats,” Antetokounmpo
Among those Antetokounmpo looked up to and learned from was the late Los Angeles Lakers great Kobe Bryant.
Back in 2018, the Greek Freak got the chance to train with the Black Mamba, who was then two years removed from calling it a career in the NBA. Looking back, Antetokounmpo shared that it was a key juncture in his development, a much-needed boost.
“In 2018, I got to train with him. It was just for two hours, and his daughter was also there. So, we were talking and training, and I was taking down notes,” Giannis
“At some point, Kobe Bryant tweeted to DeMar DeRozan and Isaiah Thomas, both NBA players, giving them specific goals. I’m sitting there in the National Team locker room, and I tweet him back, ‘What’s my goal?’ He said that your goal should be the MVP. So, I worked hard for a whole year,” he added.
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His efforts paid immediate dividends as in 2019, Giannis won the first of his back-to-back MVP awards. Then in 2021, he led the Bucks to their first NBA title in 50 years.
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Building a legacy in Miami
After building his legend in Milwaukee, Antetokounmpo is setting his sights on doing the same now with the Miami Heat, where he was traded to in the offseason.
The 10-time All-Star found his way to South Beach, along with Bobby Portis, in exchange for Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis, the rights to 2026 rookie pick Nate Ament, and four more future draft picks.
In Miami, Antetokounmpo will try to lead the Heat back to the NBA summit, like what legends Dwyane Wade, Shaquille O’Neal and LeBron James did in the past. He is coming off another All-Star campaign in his last year with the Bucks, where he averaged 27.6 points, 9.8 rebounds and 5.4 assists.
Recognizing that to succeed in the NBA, he had to learn from the best who came before him made all the difference. Now, Antetokounmpo is recognized as a legend himself.
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This story was originally published August 12, 2026 at 4:03 AM.