Giannis Antetokounmpo went for 29 points, 12 rebounds and six assists during the Milwaukee Bucks 119-100 win over the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday. After the contest, LeBron James’ co-captain in this year’s All-Star game spoke about the impact LeBron has had on him and the next generation of NBA stars.
The Greek Freak said it’s amazing to see the level that LeBron is playing at right now as a top-3 player in the league at the age of 35. He added that LeBron’s success in year 17 of his NBA career is something that inspires the 25-year-old Giannis to take care of his body and continue to improve his game so he can make a similar impact a decade from now.
Giannis on inspired by LeBron: “It’s amazing. He’s 35 and playing at a high level. He just leads the path for us. A lot of times we think that ‘Ok, we’re going to retire at 35, but seeing a guy at 35, being still top-3 best player in the world, that makes us want to be there.” pic.twitter.com/47Qf4Ixgba
— Eric Woodyard (@E_Woodyard) March 5, 2020
“It’s amazing,” Giannis said about LeBron’s production and impact on the league right now. “He’s 35 and playing at a high level. He just leads the path for us.
“A lot of times we think that ‘Ok, we’re going to retire at 35. But seeing a guy at 35, being still top-3 best player in the world, that makes us want to be there.
“It makes me want to be there one day. So, I gotta keep taking care of my body, eating the right way, being healthy. And as I said, he paved the way. So hopefully we can just follow him.”
The latest NBA future odds at BetOnline have Giannis favored to win the MVP award this season at -700. LeBron has the next best chance of brining home what would be his fifth MVP award at +800. James is followed by Luka Doncic (+1000), James Harden (+1200) and fellow Los Angeles Lakers superstar Anthony Davis (+2500).
LeBron and Giannis also currently own the best records in their respective conferences. The Bucks have the best overall mark at 53-9 while the Lakers are setting the pace in the Western Conference at 47-13.
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