While the Milwaukee Bucks have been sent home in the first round of the last two NBA Playoffs, they are in a position that few fans could have dreamed about being in just ten years ago. The 2013-14 Bucks finished the season with a woeful record of 15-67. That year was also the first season that 19-year-old Giannis Antetokounmpo played in the NBA after Milwaukee took him with the 15th overall pick in the draft.

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

After a rookie season that saw Giannis average 6.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.9 assists in 24.6 minutes per game, few thought that he would eventually become one of the best players in the NBA. Not only that, but he already has also been named as one of the 75 best players in the NBA history.

Last season, the Greek Freak had one of the best seasons of his career, averaging 30.4 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 6.5 assists per game. He also became the first player in NBA history to average 30 or more points per game with a 60% true shooting percentage.

ESPN Names Milwaukee Bucks Star Giannis Antetokounmpo Has the 42nd Best Athlete of the 21st Century

Milwaukee Bucks, Giannis AntetokounmpoJul 20, 2021; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) celebrates with the Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award after game six of the 2021 NBA Finals against the Phoenix Suns at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
On Monday, ESPN started to release its list of the top 100 professional athletes of the 21st Century. In their first installment, which listed the athletes ranked 76-100, Green Bay Packers legends Aaron Rodgers and Charles Woodson were named.

Today, Wednesday, they released numbers 26-50. Giannis was listed at number 42:

Key accomplishments: NBA 75th anniversary team, 2021 NBA champion, 2021 Finals MVP, two-time MVP, 2019-20 Defensive Player of the Year, eight-time All-Star, 2021 All-Star Game MVP, seven-time All-NBA selection, five-time All-Defense, 2016-17 Most Improved Player.

“When the Milwaukee Bucks selected a skinny kid from Greece who had been playing basketball for only two years with the 15th pick in the 2013 draft, it was impossible to predict how his arrival would alter the franchise’s trajectory for the next decade.

“Antetokounmpo transformed himself from an unknown but promising prospect into one of the most dominant power forwards in history at both ends of the floor — culminating in a 50-point game in the 2021 NBA Finals to clinch the franchise’s first championship in 50 years. The fact that he ordered 50 chicken nuggets the next day to celebrate only endeared him to Milwaukee fans even more.” — Jamal Collier

Giannis has been in the NBA for 11 years already but has yet to reach his 30th birthday. In other words, he should move further up on this list in future renditions as he adds more and more accolades to his resume.

Giannis Antetokounmpo Is the Greatest Player in Milwaukee Bucks HistoryMilwaukee Bucks, Giannis Antetokounmpo

Feb 3, 2024; Dallas, Texas, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) drives to the basket past Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) during the second half at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
At this point in his career, with many years left to go, Giannis is already Milwaukee’s career leader in the following categories:

Games played (792)
Minutes played (25,945)
Field goals (6,732)
Free throws (4,510)
Total rebounds (7,732)


Assists (3,855)
Points (18,502)
Triple-Doubles (45)
Blocks (986)

The best part, of course, is that Giannis has said (on multiple occasions) that he wants to play in Milwaukee for the entirety of his career. As long, that is, as the franchise is committed to winning.

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