Giannis Antetokounmpo makes LeBron James statement in bid to follow Lakers star into NBA history books with rare feat
GIANNIS Antetokounmpo insists he’s not driven by personal accolades despite standing on the brink of history.
The 30-year-old Milwaukee Bucks superstar can achieve a feat only LeBron James has managed.
The Bucks take on the Oklahoma City Thunder in the final of the NBA Cup in Las Vegas, Nevada on Tuesday night.
Victory at the T-Mobile Arena would add the NBA Cup to Antetokounmpo’s NBA title, two league MVPs and NBA Finals MVP awards.
Only James has the complete set having led the Los Angeles Lakers to the Vegas jackpot in the first ever in-season tournament last year.
But Giannis isn’t focused on his personal collection.
“I don’t really think about that,” he said.
“I go out there, try to compete, play at a high level and try to improve as much as I can.
“I think when you approach the game that way, things like being in the NBA Cup final and winning the Championship just fall into place.
“If you focus on trying to win the MVP, it won’t happen.
“Because you approach the game the wrong way, and you’re thinking about yourself.”
Giannis added, “I wanted always to be one of the best players to ever play, like every kid that plays basketball.
“When you’re in your backyard and you’re dribbling the ball, you’re thinking about being one of the best and making that shot and dunking on somebody.
“You always think about that. But it takes so much more.”
James turns 40 later this month and continues to put up incredible numbers.
Giannis said, “I always look at the other players that set the blueprint for us and what he’s done is incredible and never been done.
“I definitely want to play late into my career until I’m 45 or as much as my body can allow me.
How the NBA Cup works
The NBA Cup returned for a second season this year with the finals once again set to take place in Las Vegas.
The 30 teams were split into six groups of five teams each with games taking place on Tuesdays and Fridays from November 12 to December 3.
The six group winners and two best wild cards advance to a quarterfinals stage on December 10 and 11.
And the final four head to Las Vegas for the semifinals on December 14 and the final on December 17.
All games count towards the team’s regular-season record, apart from the championship game.
“LeBron kind of set the path for us, set the blueprint for us. We’ve just got to follow.”
The Bucks beat the Atlanta Hawks 110-102 in the semifinals on Saturday night with Antetokounmpo scoring 32 points.
In the second semifinal, Oklahoma City took care of the Houston Rockets with an impressive 111-96 win.
The Thunder lead the Western Conference standings and have lost just five games all season – the second fewest in the league behind the Cleveland Cavaliers.
“This is a great test for us,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said.
“We played them late last year on the road and they really took it to us, and it was a great game for us.
“Because we had been having a great season to that point, and we ran up against a team that was really ready to take it to us, and they did. Physically mauled us.
“It was good – it was like water in the face for us.
“I thought it really informed us at the level of physicality, focus, everything you need to win against a good team, they exposed, on that particular night.”