Giannis Antetokounmpo just hit a massive career milestone, becoming the sixth-youngest NBA player ever to reach 20,000 points during Milwaukee’s 137-107 blowout win over Dallas on Wednesday.
The 30-year-old star now joins an elite club of just 52 players in NBA history to reach this mark.
“I always look back at myself, and I don’t want to say I get emotional, but it’s a good feeling,” Giannis shared after the game, having reached the milestone in the third quarter. “I’m proud of the journey, but I have so much more to give.”
The Greek Freak dominated with 32 points and 15 rebounds in just 25 minutes of playing time.
When he crossed the 20,000-point threshold, the Bucks played a special tribute video on the arena’s big screen while the game continued.
Giannis couldn’t help but laugh about his coach’s reaction during the milestone moment. “He kept saying, ‘Giannis, Giannis, focus on the play,'” he recalled with a smile. “Like, Coach, you [don’t] get a lot of 20,000-points moments in your career.”
When Antetokounmpo finally headed to the bench, teammate Damian Lillard was waiting to welcome him to the exclusive club. Lillard himself joined the 20,000-point club back in December.
“It is a select group of guys that for a decade-plus have just been putting it together every year getting better,” Dame explained after the game.
“Performing against the scouting report, just showing up night in and night out and doing it over a long, long period of time. We all know the names. Obviously, to get to 20,000 points is not just being a guy that has opportunity.”
The former Portland star believes reaching this milestone requires constant evolution as a player.
“You got to keep getting better,” Lillard insisted. “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.”
