There is no doubt that Kyrie Irving has been one of the prominent NBA stars for over a decade. His talent and impact in the league are undeniable, such that even other superstars have stories about his influence. One such story comes from Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, who recently shared a memorable incident that involved Irving during his time with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, on the show Degree Freak, recalled his first-ever NBA game when he saw Irving who warmed up on the court. The ‘pregame’ ritual left a lasting impression on the young Greek player.
Went out there to do the pregame warmup. I see Kyrie Irving coming out. This is my first game ever. I was just playing Kyrie Irving on 2k the year before! These guys are coming out in slow motion… and then I think he gave us like 40.
Giannis Antetokounmpo said
Bucks superstar @Giannis_An34 describes his WELCOME to the NBA moment:
“Went out there to do the pregame warmup, and all of a sudden I see Kyrie Irving coming out. This is my first game EVER. I was just playing Kyrie Irving on 2k the year before! … I think he gave us like 40… pic.twitter.com/2zbrLxrePZ
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) September 24, 2024
Since then, Giannis has followed a meteoric rise, where he made his first All-Star team in 2017 and went on to become a two-time MVP, NBA champion, and eight-time All-Star. His journey from a top 15 draft pick to one of the league’s best players has mirrored the early impact Kyrie Irving had on him.
Furthermore, he is now an 11-year veteran, and he finds himself on the other side of these moments where the younger players look up to him for inspiration. He now heads into the new season, where he faces the challenge of bouncing back from a disappointing campaign and leading the Bucks back to title contention.
Giannis Antetokounmpo still an attractive prospect for the Golden State Warriors
Before the new season starts, many teams are in the rebuild phase, including the Golden State Warriors who are working to capitalize on Steph Curry’s remaining prime years. However, NBA insider Sam Amick of ‘The Athletic’ has suggested that the possibility of trading for Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo to make a strong attack for the Dubs is still an exciting possibility.
He made this known when he spoke on ‘The TK Show’ podcast, as he noted that while it may seem unlikely, a potential trade could be realistic if circumstances change for the Bucks. However, the Dubs possess a wealth of trade assets, including promising young players like Moses Moody, Jonathan Kuminga, and Trayce Jackson-Davis, along with several future draft picks to make a deal with the Bucks.
One that I think is just always gonna be monitored around the NBA is if the wheels fall off the Bucks. We know that Joe Lacob has had dreams of Giannis coming the Warriors’ way for a very long time. Again, unlikely, but Khris Middleton is gonna be a free agent next summer… I think Giannis is worth monitoring.
Sam Amik said
Last offseason, Milwaukee made a major move when they acquired Damian Lillard to team up with Giannis, but the anticipated deep playoff run didn’t materialize. With high expectations for the upcoming season, the Bucks will need a stronger performance to keep Giannis fully committed.
