Tag: greek freak

Watch: Steph Curry fired up after Giannis Antetokounmpo’s All-Star block on LeBron James

Stephen Curry was fired up watching the 2020 NBA All-Star Game at home.

The 2020 edition of the NBA All-Star game had a different feel to it. In Chicago, the NBA switched up how the star-studded exhibition was decided. Each quarter was split up into stand-alone periods, with the winner getting $100,000 donated to charity.

The most exciting change came in the final period. The fourth quarter was played with no time; instead, the game was decided by a point total — similar to pick-up basketball.

The new format provided fireworks. A game known for showing off turned into a legitimate competition. All-Stars were passing the ball to get an efficient shot, taking charges and playing defense.

One of the key defensive moments came from the reigning Most Valuable Player Giannis Antetokounmpo. The “Greek Freak” met LeBron James at the rim to send him away with an emphatic block. The swat was initially called goaltending, but after review, it was ruled a clean block. However, James had the last laugh when his team edged out Team Giannis, 157-156.

Although the game was exciting, it was still missing the presence of six-time All-Star, Stephen Curry. The Golden State Warriors’ guard has only played four games this season due to his hand injury, yet still finished in the top-10 of Western Conference voting.

Curry’s absence from All-Star festivities didn’t stop him from tuning in. Ayesha Curry posted a story on her Instagram with her husband cheering after Antetokounmpo’s block on James.

Reports have targeted March for Curry’s return to the court from injury. The injured guard will have around 20 games with Golden State to knock off the rust before getting back to an All-Star campaign next season. Curry will have the chance to make his debut in the new All-Star Game format next year in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Giannis Antetokounmpo says a healthy Steph Curry makes it ‘way tougher for the rest of the league’

At All-Star weekend in Chicago, Giannis Antetokounmpo spoke about the absence of Warriors’ guard Stephen Curry.

Something is missing during the Chicago edition of NBA All-Star weekend. The Golden State Warriors have seemingly dominated the NBA’s famed event over the past five seasons, but in 2020 things are different.

Whether it’s Kevin Durant earning All-Star game Most Valuable Player, or Klay Thompson winning the Three-Point Contest, members of the Warriors have headlined the NBA’s star-studded weekend.

Yet, in 2020, the only member of the Warriors in Chicago was Eric Paschall, who was invited to the Rising Stars Challenge.

The lack of the Golden State Warriors at All-Star weekend connects a more significant theme for their 2019-20 season — injuries. Stephen Curry has only played four games this season due to a broken hand, and still placed in the All-Star voting top-10. At the same time, Thompson hasn’t played yet this season as he recovers from the ACL injury he suffered in the 2019 NBA Finals.

Injuries to Curry and Thompson have pulled the Warriors from perennial title contenders down to the bottom of the Western Conference.

Without the Warriors —  the Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Lakers, Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Clippers and Toronto Raptors have catapulted to the top of the NBA standings.

Leading the Bucks is All-Star team captain Giannis Antetokounmpo. In Chicago, the 2019 Most Valuable Player spoke about the absence of Curry throughout the current NBA season.

Antetokounmpo told reporters at All-Star Game media day that players around the league are enjoying games with Curry out because of how difficult he makes things for his opponents.

Obviously, Steph Curry is an amazing talent, amazing player. The game is different without him, so we definitely — actually, let me be honest with you. The players, we kind of enjoy that he’s not playing — not enjoy that he’s hurt. We want him to be healthy, but he just makes it way, way tougher for the rest of the league, but I’m happy he’s going to be back healthy and happy that he’s going to be able to help his team win some games.

Reports have targeted March as Curry’s potential return from injury, giving him around 20 games to get back to making things tough on the rest of the NBA. Next season when Curry and Thompson both suit up healthy, the Warriors will restart their climb towards contention.

Report: Steph Curry gifted Giannis Antetokounmpo a signed jersey

According to The Athletic, After the Milwaukee Bucks took down Golden State Warriors, Giannis Antetokounmpo received a signed Stephen Curry Warriors jersey from the two-time MVP himself.

The Golden State Warriors dropped their sixth straight in a loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, yet the score wasn’t the thing that made headlines after the final buzzer — the lead story surrounded Giannis Antetokounmpo’s debut in San Francisco’s new Chase Center. 

Antetokounmpo dropped 30 points on 10-of-21 shooting from the field while grabbing 12 rebounds. The understaffed Golden State squad battled against the Eastern Conference-leading Bucks, but the “Greek Freak” proved why he’s the NBA’s reigning Most Valuable Player. 

The Warriors’ two-time MVP, Stephen Curry didn’t suit up against the Bucks, as he’s still dealing with a hand injury, but sat along the Golden State bench with Antetokounmpo in town. 

With Antetokounmpo in San Francisco and Curry on the bench, the pair MVPs shared a moment postgame. 

Many have speculated on what the two All-Star were discussing along the sideline after the game. However, According to Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports reported that Curry and Antetokounmpo were talking about playing the video game, ‘PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds.’

Curry and Antetokounmpo’s night didn’t stop on the sideline. In the visiting locker room after the game, Antetokounmpo reportedly had a gift from Curry. Steve Berman of The Athletic reported that Antetokounmpo had a signed No. 30 Curry Warriors’ jersey in his locker. According to Berman, there was a long note down the zero half of the number 30. 

The jersey swap isn’t their first interaction, as the two MVPs have a history dating back to the 2018 All-Star game. Both Curry and Antetokounmpo served as captains in the NBA All-Star game in 2018 and 2019. In last year’s All-Star game, Antetokounmpo selected Curry with his first overall pick. 

Antetokounmpo will have the chance to return the favor and gift Curry his No. 34 when the Warriors travel to Milwaukee on March 14. Perfect timing for Curry, who could be nearing his return to the court from injury around that time.

Steve Kerr praises Giannis Antetokounmpo: ‘that’s why he’s the MVP’

Steve Kerr has nothing but praise for Milwaukee Buck’s forward, Giannis Antetokounmpo after he dropped 32-points against the Golden State Warriors.

The Golden State Warriors were on a five-game losing streak, the team’s record sits at the bottom of the Western Conference, and on top of that; D’Angelo Russell, Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry are all injured. However, when the Milwaukee Bucks rolled into San Francisco for the first time this season, there was excitement in the air.

Golden State battled the Bucks from wire-to-wire, but without Russell, they couldn’t complete the upset against the Eastern Conference-leaders. The Warriors dropped their sixth straight game, but regardless of wins and losses, all eyes were on No. 34 in green.

Giannis Antetokounmpo made his Chase Center debut against the Warriors and proved why he’s one of the NBA’s marquee players. Antetokounmpo tallied a double-double for 30 points and 12 rebounds against Golden State. While 30-points is a significant number in the box score, yet Antetokounmpo’s night felt quiet, ending the night shooting 10-of-21 from the field, but just 1-of-7 from beyond the arc.

To Steve Kerr, Antetokounmpo’s impact when it feels like he’s not having a good game is another reason why he’s the NBA’s Most Valuable Player. Kerr spoke to reporters after the Warriors’ loss about the 2019 MVP award winner.

That’s how good he is, I mean it didn’t feel like he had a very good game and he had 30 points and 12 rebounds — that’s why he’s the MVP — guys like that even when they don’t shoot the ball well they have a huge impact on the game — we tried to make him work, and we tried to put a bunch of bodies in front of him.

Prior to coaching players like Kevin Durant and Curry, Kerr played alongside Michael Jordan, making it safe to say he knows what he’s talking about when it comes to MVP caliber talent.