When the Milwaukee Bucks drafted Giannis Antetokounmpo as the No. 15 overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, he wasn’t exactly a franchise-altering prospect. It took the 6-foot-11 forward a few years before he started dominating the league. At that point on, Antetokounmpo never looked back.

Milwaukee Bucks, Giannis Antetokounmpo

Oct 26, 2023; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) is announced to the crowd prior to the game against the Philadelphia 76ers at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
For former Bucks guard Michael Carter-Williams, he realized early on that Giannis was no ordinary player. In fact, the 32-year-old recently revealed the exact moment he knew that the rest of the NBA wasn’t ready for what Antetokounmpo was going to bring to the table.

Milwaukee Bucks News: Michael Carter-Williams Speaks Out on Giannis’ Potential

Milwaukee Bucks, Giannis AntetokounmpoFeb 29, 2024; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) warms up before the start of the first quarter against the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
Carter-Williams joined the Bucks in the middle of the 2014-15 season after he was traded by the Philadelphia 76ers. At that point in time, Antetokounmpo was just in his second year in the NBA. Nevertheless, MCW already knew that this young man was special:

“It was crazy even watching Giannis play early on,” Carter-Williams said, via Jim Owczarski of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “He would have six to 10 plays where you’re like this is crazy. Those six plays turned into 15, turned into 20. Once he’s more consistent, it’s over, it’s a wrap (for the rest of the NBA).”


 
USATSI 16843497 168400517 lowres scaledSep 27, 2021; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic guard Michael Carter-Williams (7) poses for a photo for Orlando Magic media day at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Giannis and Jabari Parker

USATSI 10309990 168400517 lowresSep 25, 2017; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Jabari Parker (12), Milwaukee Bucks head coach Jason Kidd, and Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) during media day at Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin Sports Science Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike De Sisti/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel via USA TODAY NETWORK
Apart from Giannis and Carter-Williams, another rising star on the Bucks roster during that time was Jabari Parker, who Milwaukee selected as the No. 2 overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft.

Naturally, there were some intense moments between Antetokounmpo and Parker during practice. There was one instance, in particular, that led Carter-Williams to believe that Giannis was truly “about to take over the league.”

“Jabari and Giannis going back and forth calling fouls,” Carter-Williams recalled. “I got pissed, you have to play ball, no more calling fouls. I snapped on them both. Once I said that, them two turned into two animals. I’m playing against them, they lower their shoulder. I probably shouldn’t have said no fouls. Then they started going at each other.”

The rest, as they say, is history.

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