Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James is one of the greatest basketball players the game has seen. His unmatched longevity and numerous achievements put him in a league of his own. Notwithstanding, Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo is equally one of the standout performers in the sport. While both players have different strengths and attributes, former NBA champion Kevin Garnett believes they should be appreciated.
Speaking recently on an episode of his podcast, Garnett decried how many people no longer hold athletes in high esteem. According to him, basketball fans have been so spoiled that they don’t value the sacrifices players such as LeBron James make.
We, the fan, have become spoiled. We talk about Aliens, bro you know where your aliens are? Your aliens are your athletes… We just saw the Olympics, right? No regular person in there that had on that country was regular. And as a fan, man, we gotta always make sure that we appreciate what we’re seeing out of these athletes, man.
Kevin Garnett said
“We, the fans, have become spoiled.”
Kevin Garnett & Paul Pierce weigh on the longevity & standards set by athletes today. pic.twitter.com/bCqwY2RrKT
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The way the Boston Celtics legend sees it, fans have stopped behaving better towards sports stars. He pointed out that most people don’t realize the amount of work athletes really put in behind the scenes. Furthermore, Garnett asserted that average people just won’t be able to replicate what these superstars do.
To buttress his point, he compared James who’s approaching 40 years old and Giannis Antetokounmpo, to ordinary folks who are not NBA stars. In his opinion, it shows their achievements are truly remarkable even while ageing. Speaking of achievements, Antetokounmpo in particular happens to have a special record in the NBA. He is the only player in history to average at least 25 points-per-game, 10 rebounds-per-game, 5 assists-per-game, and 1 steals-per-game in different seasons.
Gilbert Arenas heaped praise on Giannis Antetokounmpo over shooting technique
Despite the high level of NBA games, Giannis Antetokounmpo continues to push himself even further. The Greek player has been tirelessly training to perfect a jump shot in his game. His dedication appears to be paying dividends, as he has gotten better.
Antetokounmpo’s vast improvement in that area even caught the attention of Gilbert Arenas, who had nothing but praise for him.
You’re going to have to work on coming full speed like you’re about to drive, back up and pull your jumper from there. So, instead of walking into it to shoot it, you’re going to have to run full speed and then learn how to decelerate to shoot it.
Gilbert Arenas said
His comments, show Antetokounmpo has adapted to the game while removing the rough edges. The Milwaukee Bucks player showed off the new jump shot during the 2024 Olympics with Greece. Widely regarded as one of the best stars in the league, the 29-year-old has never turned away from taking responsibility.
