There’s no denying Giannis Antetokounmpo is one of the most talented and dominant players in the NBA right now. For former Boston Celtics star Kevin Garnett, though, the Milwaukee Bucks forward isn’t even in the Eastern Conference’s top three players next season.
The NBA community was buzzing with reactions after Garnett made a controversial ranking of Antetokounmpo in the Eastern Conference. Garnett, a member of the NBA’s 75th anniversary team, claimed that the Greek Freak is only the fourth-best player in the East, behind the likes of Joel Embiid and Jayson Tatum.
Garnett’s comments, made on his Ticket & The Truth podcast with former teammate Paul Pierce, were met with widespread disbelief and criticism from fans and analysts alike. Antetokounmpo, a two-time NBA MVP, is widely regarded as one of the best players in the world, let alone the Eastern Conference.
The Greek Freak has accomplished feats that few others have in NBA history, including averaging at least 30 points per game and shooting 60% in a season, and becoming the first player to record 200 points, 100 rebounds, and 50 assists in a single playoff series. He was also selected as one of the 75 greatest players in NBA history as part of the league’s 75th anniversary team.
NBA Legend Kevin Garnett Drops Shocking Take on Milwaukee Bucks Star Giannis Antetokounmpo and His NBA Status
Garnett, however, cited Antetokounmpo’s recent first-round playoff exits as a reason for ranking him lower than Embiid and Tatum, as seen in a tweet shared by Deer Muse on X. He failed to acknowledge that Giannis had missed significant time in those series due to injuries, a factor that likely contributed to the Bucks’ early postseason exits.
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/zNCHBxto5D
— DeerMuse🦌 (@DeerMuse) August 25, 2024
The backlash on social media was swift, with many fans quick to point out Antetokounmpo’s dominance and championship pedigree, including his 50-point performance in the closeout game of the 2021 NBA Finals. The consensus among the NBA community was that Garnett’s ranking was not only unjustified but a clear case of Giannis slander.
As the new NBA season approaches, Antetokounmpo will undoubtedly use this perceived slight as motivation to continue his quest for greatness. The debate over the best player in the East will undoubtedly rage on, but Giannis’ resume speaks for itself, and the majority of the basketball world sees him as the superior player.
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