The Bucks star was chosen as the No. 1 player in CBS Sports' top 100 for the upcoming season
Giannis Antetokounmpo, the top player for the Milwaukee Bucks, was ranked first when CBS Sports’ annual NBA Top 100 list was published earlier this month. These lists are more for the fans and media than the players, but Giannis offered his own opinions on Sunday during Milwaukee’s media day.
Giannis pronounced Steph Curry to be the finest player in the world after helping the Golden State Warriors win the championship the previous season, which came as little surprise.
“Do I think I’m one of the league’s finest players in terms of how I make my team successful and win games? “Yes, I do,” Giannis responded. “I’m old enough and sophisticated enough to comprehend it. Do I think I’m the finest there is? No. The final man remaining, the one who leads his team to victory and helps them win games and titles, is, in my opinion, the best player in the world.
“When we achieved it two years ago, I was thinking, “Ah yes, maybe I’m the best player in the world,” as I slept in my bed. Now, though, no. The winner is the best, in my opinion and in my view. The winner is the best person… Up until the next guy, in my opinion, Steph Curry is the best player in the world.”
Coincidentally, the Warriors also had their media days on Sunday. Curry had a polite reaction when asked about Giannis’ remarks.
Curry remarked, “I don’t know whether setting the stage for was gamesmanship — I would say the same thing when you’re against the winners. “That’s a feature of the league’s nature. We all want to win the title, and last year, after their run, I was contemplating the same thing about him when I looked at the squad that was left standing and playing the best. I thus value the praise. I won’t get complacent at all because of that. But you do value the respect of your peers to make comments like that, and I’ve been in the position where I frequently commend players around the league.
He is, at the very least, one of the top players in the world, as Giannis pointed out. Last season, he averaged 29.9 points, 11.6 rebounds, 5.8 assists, and 1.4 blocks per game. He is the first player in league history to have twice in his career officially averaged at least 29 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, and one block. He will continue to be an MVP contender for years to come because he is a powerful physical force who cares more about the game and getting better than maybe anyone else in the league.
However, he is not the reigning champion right now, and his justification that Curry holds the top rank as the greatest player on the best team is undoubtedly persuasive, while being self-serving for his image. Curry was ranked No. 2 on CBS Sports’ list, so it’s not like we were too far behind him.
