Giannis Antetokounmpo, the NBA superstar from Greece, has achieved a significant milestone in his illustrious career. On Wednesday night, during the Milwaukee Bucks' commanding 137-107 victory over the Dallas Mavericks, Antetokounmpo reached 20,000 career points. This achievement makes him the seventh player born outside the United States to reach this mark, according to ESPN Research.
Antetokounmpo, just 30 years old, is now the sixth-youngest player in NBA history to score 20,000 points. In the game against the Mavericks, he delivered an impressive performance, contributing 32 points and 15 rebounds in just 25 minutes. As he reflects on this achievement, Giannis remains humble about his roots and the sacrifices that brought him from Greece to NBA superstardom.
"I hope a lot of people see me, and I represent the people that might not have it all. Might not be the most talented people, but they are disciplined. They show up every single night to do the right thing, no matter the outcome. They keep on coming back and keep on being disciplined in their craft. So I hope I can represent all those people." – Giannis Antetokounmpo
Giannis's journey to this milestone is a testament to his dedication and perseverance. He plans to continue his ascent and aims to reach 30,000 career points. However, he remains focused on the broader picture.
"I'll get there," he said. "I don't know how I'll do it, but I'm going to show up every single day and I'm going to do it. It's not a goal of mine. I don't think it counts in your legacy if you score 25,000 or 27 or 30,000. Winning counts more." – Giannis Antetokounmpo
This milestone also highlights Giannis's successful partnership with Damian Lillard. Together, they have become one of the most prolific scoring duos in NBA history, with at least 30 points in a game 15 times since becoming teammates. According to ESPN Research, this ranks them third among duos in their first two seasons.
"It is a select group of guys that for a decade-plus have just been putting it together every year getting better, performing against the scouting report, just showing up night in and night out and doing it over a long, long period of time," – Damian Lillard
Lillard welcomed Giannis to this exclusive club with a simple yet powerful message: "Welcome to the club." His words underscore the dedication required to achieve such a feat.
"We all know the names. Obviously, to get to 20,000 points is not just being a guy that has opportunity. You got to keep getting better. You got to go against the best defenders, you got to go against the scouting reports, you got to take care of yourself and be available." – Damian Lillard
The Bucks' victory over the Mavericks showcased not only individual achievements but also the collective effort of a team building solid habits since the All-Star break. Giannis takes pride in these developments as they reflect the growth and resilience of the team.
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