Just Recently, former NBA champion Kevin Garnett claimed that two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo isn’t one of the top three players in the Eastern Conference. In response, Milwaukee Bucks fans have taken to defend the All-Star forward.
Garnett, a former NBA player and Hall of Famer, recently made a surprising statement about Antetokounmpo’s standing in the Eastern Conference. On his podcast Ticket & Truth, Garnett claimed that the Greek Freak is only the fourth-best player in the East, behind the likes of Joel Embiid and Jayson Tatum.
Antetokounmpo is widely regarded as one of the best players in the NBA, having won two MVP awards and leading the Milwaukee Bucks to an NBA championship in 2021.
He is also the first player in league history to average at least 30 points per game and shoot 60% in a season, a feat he accomplished in the 2023-24 campaign. Additionally, he was named to the NBA’s 75th anniversary team, further solidifying his status as an all-time great.
Milwaukee Bucks Fans React To Kevin Garnett’s Giannis Antetokounmpo Disrespect
After Garnett made his thoughts known, fans flocked to social media to express their collective reaction. This can be seen in a post shared by The Bucks Zone on X.
Kevin Garnett when asked if Giannis Antetokounmpo is the best player in the Eastern Conference:
“You can’t say that with Embiid and Tatum over there… He’s probably like the, what, fourth-best player in the East?” pic.twitter.com/77e1zz6EZG
— TheBucksZone (@TheBucksZone) August 25, 2024
“He’s threatened because he’s never been as good as Giannis. KGs playoff career high is what Giannis averaged in the finals. The only thing KG has on Giannis is longevity. Fled the Midwest to form the first modern superteam cuz he couldn’t win on his own,” cautiously optimistic bucks fan said.
“Giannis already greater than KG all time,” Ball Knower Brick tweeted.
“Kevin Garnett is also the same guy that said Thon Maker was going to be an MVP,” Andy Gray reminded.
“Giannis is a second best player of the league,” Agustin sujo mentioned.
“That’s fine. I want the Bucks to come back this season and play with a chip on their shoulder. Let me think we’re done. Let ‘em keep disrespecting. Giannis has outplayed Embiid plenty of times. Tatum and them are good no doubt but if you’re a GM your taking GA 1s,” Nick explained.
“Jesus, this dude said Embiid,” Breakneck reacted.”
“Giannis already over KG all time before he 30,” D shared.
Garnett’s reasoning for ranking Antetokounmpo lower in the Eastern Conference hierarchy is primarily due to the Bucks’ recent early playoff exits. However, he seems to have overlooked the context of those losses, such as Antetokounmpo’s injury absence in the 2024 playoffs against the Indiana Pacers and his limited availability in the 2023 series against the Miami Heat.
Garnett’s co-host, Paul Pierce, who is also a Hall of Famer, disagreed with the assessment, arguing that Antetokounmpo is at least “arguably the best player in the East.” Pierce stated that he would take the Bucks star over Embiid.
While Garnett’s opinion may come as a surprise to many, it serves as a reminder that even basketball legends can have differing perspectives on the current state of the game and the players who dominate it, which can lead to the possibility of fans reacting otherwise.
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