Giannis Antetokounmpo: As long as Victor Wembanyama is healthy, the league is his


The LeBron James Era is nearing an end. The Age of Victor Wembanyama is about to take hold. That was the message, in so many words, some of the NBA’s biggest stars delivered time and again Saturday at media day for the 2024 All-Star Game. “As long as Victor is healthy, the league is his,” the Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo said of the Spurs rookie star. “LeBron is kind of like that,” Antetokounmpo added. “He’s close to the end of his career. … But we have to deal with this problem now moving forward.”
Source: San Antonio Express-News

What’s the buzz on Twitter?

Tom Orsborn @tom_orsborn
NBA royalty view the #Spurs‘ Victor Wembanyama as the heir apparent to King James.
“As long as Victor is healthy, the league is his,” Giannis said Saturday.
On the dawning of a new era in league history:
expressnews.com/sports/spurs/a…5:09 PM
Eurohoops @Eurohoopsnet
Giannis Antetokounmpo is ‘very, very happy’ with his former teammate Jabari Parker ‘enjoying the game’ at Barcelona #EuroLeague
eurohoops.net/en/nba-news/16…4:26 PM
Rob Peterson @ShotDrJr
Giannis on having a lot of change in the last few months pic.twitter.com/dtZD09Ln7h2:53 PM

StatMuse @statmuse
Rookie leaders at the All-Star break:
PPG — Wemby
RPG — Wemby
APG — Scoot
SPG — Wemby
BPG — Wemby
FGM — Wemby
3PM — Miller
FTM — Wemby pic.twitter.com/kemeWftMU62:46 PM

Ben Rohrbach @brohrbach
Giannis Antetokounmpo says having a fourth head coach in the past eight months is challenging. He thinks the Bucks have a lot of work to do — A LOT of work to do — to get back to a Finals.
“A very, very, very hard season.” – 2:24 PM
Tim Bontemps @TimBontemps
Giannis Antetokounmpo missed All-Star practice this morning because his plane was delayed, but he opened his media session apologizing to the fans who came today for not being able to see him. – 2:08 PM
Bobby Manning @RealBobManning
Durant on Wembanyama: “Luckily I’m on my way out.” – 12:52 PM
Clemente Almanza @CAlmanza1007
Another sign that SGA has graduated to one of the best players in the league — he’ll join Steph, KD, Giannis, Tatum & Haliburton as All-Star’s who’ll get their practice media availability done in a press conference instead of in scrums – 9:38 AM
Joe Vardon @joevardon
Forget Paris: The unusual and confounding tale of how badminton — yes, badminton — is moving LeBron James, Steph Curry, and Victor Wembanyama 150 miles away from the Eiffel Tower for the first week of the Olympics, ⁦@TheAthleticNBA⁩ theathletic.com/5237758/2024/0…9:16 AM
Tony East @TonyREast
I asked Oscar Tshiebwe about going against Victor Wembanyama in the Rising Stars events last night. He equated it to when he went again middle schoolers.
“That’s not fair, man.” pic.twitter.com/654nfDpQgA9:12 AM

StatMuse @statmuse
Most stocks since January 1st:
90 — Wemby
76 — Chet, Kessler
66 — AD
64 — Caruso pic.twitter.com/3KEClZshYB8:48 AM

Eurohoops @Eurohoopsnet
Victor Wembanyama would like to participate in NBA Three-Point and Dunk Contests in the future: “That’s on my bucket list” 🪣
eurohoops.net/en/nba-news/16…4:21 AM
Eurohoops @Eurohoopsnet
Victor Wembanyama speaks for all of us
pic.twitter.com/IVbmr5o9te3:05 AM

BasketNews @BasketNews_com
Lithuanian prospect Matas Buzelis sinks a game-winning shot against Victor Wembanyama’s team 👀🧨
pic.twitter.com/JeVgypuMSw2:09 AM
Jim Owczarski @JimOwczarski
Yes, Alondes Williams (@moneymanman31) tried to dunk on Victor Wembanyama 😤. pic.twitter.com/WCIQDszGUL12:53 AM

Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
INdiana
(still got to get a key and we down 2-0 but I GOT GIANNIS) pic.twitter.com/jbBBMy7QUs11:40 PM
Tom Orsborn @tom_orsborn
Jeremy on heading back home rather than staying to root on Wemby in the skills challenge Saturday night:
“I want to have some vacation, some rest time,” he said.
Oh, and one other thing:
“Otto is at home on his own,” he said, referring to his German pointer. – 11:26 PM
Kristian Winfield @Krisplashed
Shame on Team Pau for losing.
We deserved Chet vs Wemby. – 10:53 PM
Tom Orsborn @tom_orsborn
Wemby said the game was fun against “guys who are very promising,” but he said he has “mixed feelings” about the experience.
“I hate losing,” he said. – 10:51 PM
Tom Orsborn @tom_orsborn
It’s been a long day for Wemby, and he’s still got the skills challenge to complete tomorrow night. So is he tired?
“I was tired before it even started. I can’t wait until it’s over because I need these couple of days of rest to get back to be good during the season.” – 10:47 PM
Andrew Lopez @_Andrew_Lopez
Victor Wembanyama asked if he would be interested in participating in 3-point contest and dunk contest in the future:
“Yes. That’s on my bucket list.” – 10:36 PM
Ball Don’t Lie @Balldontlie
Team Detlef takes down Team Gasol and Wemby to advance to the Rising Stars Championship ‼
(via @NBA)
pic.twitter.com/opq4Vx8BFv10:34 PM

Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
No Chet vs Wemby Rising Stars Finals.
Adam Silver gonna ban Mac McClung from the NBA for this. – 10:33 PM
Chase Hughes @ChaseHughesNBCS
Team Pau with Bilal Coulibaly and Victor Wembanyama loses in the semifinals of the Rising Stars challenge. Possible 2024 top-5 pick Matas Buzelis hits the game-winner MJ over Shawn Marion style 👀 – 10:29 PM
Ball Don’t Lie @Balldontlie
Wemby with the CLUTCH BLOCK
(via @NBA)
pic.twitter.com/AaXKsGNKB710:27 PM

Brady Hawk @BradyHawk305
Alondes Williams corner three over Wemby now
Wow – 10:20 PM
Bobby Manning @RealBobManning
We have a development here in Indy. The G-Leaguers are up 27-17 on Team Wembanyama!! – 10:11 PM
Sarah Todd @NBASarah
Lol. You thought these G League guys were just gonna come out here and let Wemby and Co. run easy?
Grinders came to play. – 10:10 PM
Brady Hawk @BradyHawk305
Alondes Williams really taking down Victor Wembanyama on national television right now – 10:04 PM
Brady Hawk @BradyHawk305
Alondes Williams going right at Wemby for the and-1????
TOUGH – 10:00 PM
Brady Hawk @BradyHawk305
Omg the Wemby-Jaquez pick and roll – 10:00 PM
Carl Steward @stewardsfolly
Just once, I want to hear “Podziemski to Wembanyama for the dunk.” Took me five minutes just to type it! – 9:51 PM
Tom Orsborn @tom_orsborn
Jeremy did his part (without having to break much of a sweat). Now it’s up to Wemby to get us a Spur vs. Spurs final. – 9:42 PM
Nick DePaula @NickDePaula
Wemby has an Air More Uptempo-inspired GT Hustle PE for the Rising Stars Game pic.twitter.com/fPzdHMIbSH9:33 PM

Tim Reynolds @ByTimReynolds
I don’t mean to alarm anybody, but Wemby got a dribbling tutorial today from Jamal Crawford and if he starts with that stuff it could be the end of modern civilization as we know it. – 7:52 PM
Ben Golliver @BenGolliver
Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama in the building for the Rising Stars game pic.twitter.com/Cc5DO1QnGi7:20 PM

StatMuse @statmuse
Most rebounds + assists this month:
197 — Sabonis
137 — Giannis, Luka
129 — Draymond
126 — Podziemski pic.twitter.com/GqMpXa7RLt5:56 PM

Bill Simmons @BillSimmons
So @FDSportsbook and I combined on a special OFF THE MENU parlay boost…
—The Mavs to win their division (they’re 1 back)
—GSW and LAL both to be Play-In teams
That’s up to +310
PS: we had to replace Milwaukee with Dallas after the awful Heat/Memphis losses… sorry Giannis! pic.twitter.com/D5Hz05lfr63:57 PM

NBA on ESPN @ESPNNBA
“What’s Giannis’ excuse?” 😳
@kendrickperkins on the Bucks’ star calling out his team. pic.twitter.com/z94eyqOdSd3:40 PM

Giannis Antetokounmpo @Giannis_An34
I couldn’t have done it without you. Thank you for sharing @Thanasis_ante43 🙏🏾🙌🏾🤎 pic.twitter.com/4Z3WLbQ5vs2:05 PM

Eric Nehm @eric_nehm
Following last night’s loss to the Grizzlies, an exasperated Giannis Antetokounmpo found himself asking the some version of the same question over and over again.
“Do we want it? Do we really want to win? Do we want to win?”
At ⁦@TheAthletic⁩: theathletic.com/5280208/2024/0…11:53 AM
StatMuse @statmuse
Leaders at the All-Star break:
PPG — Luka
RPG — Sabonis
APG — Haliburton
SPG — Shai
BPG — Wemby
FGM — Giannis
3PM — Steph
FTM — Shai pic.twitter.com/nW1WmSSqlO10:44 AM

Jim Owczarski @JimOwczarski
After a disappointing loss in Memphis, Giannis Antetokounmpo challenged himself & the #Bucks out of the all-star break:
“Do we want it? Do we really want to win? … I start with myself. I have to be better. And then it goes down. I have to be way better.”
jsonline.com/story/sports/n…9:41 AM
Justin Kubatko @jkubatko
Giannis Antetokounmpo last night:
✅ 35 PTS
✅ 12 AST
✅ 15-17 FG
Antetokounmpo’s field goal percentage was 88.2%, the highest such figure he’s ever recorded in a game with at least 10 attempts.
Please read, share, and subscribe: statitudes.com/p/nba-game-not… pic.twitter.com/lbyV51qvpb9:19 AM

Eurohoops @Eurohoopsnet
Despite a huge 35-point night and a double-double with 12 assists (and one pretty dope left-handed no-look pass), Giannis Antetokounmpo wasn’t enough to stop Milwaukee’s crisis against Memphis ❌
eurohoops.net/en/nba-news/16…3:34 AM
Drew Hill @DrewHill_DM
Another special night for GG Jackson, who may not be strong enough to withstand a pinch from Giannis, but is talented enough to put the hoops world on notice (again).
dailymemphian.com/section/sports…1:03 AM
Eurohoops @Eurohoopsnet
Amazing no-look pass by Giannis Antetokounmpo 👀
pic.twitter.com/k7aQg26uaY12:51 AM

Chris Mannix @SIChrisMannix
Giannis, postgame, with a passionate plea for more urgency. Frustrated by where the team was at. Says everyone, himself included, has to be better. – 12:21 AM
Damichael Cole @DamichaelC
GG Jackson said Giannis was pinching him in his sides and nudging him during one of the timeouts while GG was talking to Taylor Jenkins.
“I was telling him my core not that strong yet. That stuff hurts.” – 11:47 PM
Brian Geltzeiler @BGeltzNBA
This may be a new low for the Bucks tonight. Ugly loss to a decimated Grizzlies team. Wondering aloud if this is what Giannis had in mind when he said in the off-season he wanted to be on a team that contended for a title every year – 11:07 PM
Eric Nehm @eric_nehm
FINAL: Grizzlies 113, Bucks 110
– Antetokounmpo 35pts/4reb/12ast
– Lillard 24pts/5reb/7ast
– Portis 15pts/7reb/2ast
– Lopez 14pts/11reb/2ast – 11:06 PM
Eric Nehm @eric_nehm
Giannis Antetokounmpo drove and kicked it out to Brook Lopez, who missed the 3-point attempt.
That might be it. Grizzlies up, 113-104, with 49.8 seconds left after the free throws. – 10:58 PM
Eric Nehm @eric_nehm
Brook Lopez had a loose ball on the ground and it got poked away from him. Doc Rivers is convinced there was a foul. No call.
Loose ball goes to the Grizzlies and Vince Williams gets a shot off and Giannis Antetokounmpo fouled him.
Williams to the line for two with 1:07 left. – 10:56 PM
Damichael Cole @DamichaelC
Not enough size and no answer for Giannis. He’s having his way tonight. Bucks are on an 18-6 run and have taken the lead.
Bucks 100 Grizzlies 98
4:56 left 4th quarter – 10:41 PM
Eric Nehm @eric_nehm
And with that two-hand dunk from Giannis Antetokounmpo, this game is tied at 98. – 10:39 PM
StatMuse @statmuse
Total career points:
20,608 — Dame
17,907 — Giannis
16,162 — Lopez
7,350 — Crowder
6,702 — Portis
5,668 — Grizzlies 9-man rotation tonight pic.twitter.com/JaDR9eVvkW10:39 PM

Chris Mannix @SIChrisMannix
Big fourth quarter coming for Milwaukee. Trail by nine after getting worked by the Zombie Grizzlies in the third. Memphis sharp from the floor (56.5%) and three (52.4%). Bucks offense is a whole lotta Giannis isolation. – 10:19 PM
Eric Nehm @eric_nehm
After three quarters, the Grizzlies lead, 94-85. The Bucks have one quarter to put some stops together and try to pull out a win.
Giannis Antetokounmpo leads the Bucks with 27 points and 10 assists. Damian Lillard is up next with 19 points and five assists. – 10:19 PM
Eric Nehm @eric_nehm
The Bucks just can’t put together stops here in the third quarter and the Grizzlies lead, 80-75, with 4:51 left in the third quarter.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is up to 23 points on 10-of-11 shooting, plus nine assists. Damian Lillard has added 19 points and five assists as well. – 10:05 PM
Eric Nehm @eric_nehm
Half: Bucks 57, Grizzlies 57
– Antetokounmpo 13pts/7ast
– Lillard 13pts/3reb/4ast
– Lopez 12pts/5reb/2ast
– Portis 8pts/5reb/2ast – 9:30 PM
Drew Hill @DrewHill_DM
Vince Williams is awesome defensively, but asking him to guard Giannis on an island is not a fair fight. – 9:25 PM
Eric Nehm @eric_nehm
The Bucks got three stops in a row and it fueled a 6-0 run and now the Bucks and Grizzlies are tied at 32 with 10:06 left in the second quarter.
Two buckets for Giannis Antetokounmpo in transition and then he found Bobby Portis with a no-look pass under the bucket. – 9:09 PM
Ball Don’t Lie @Balldontlie
Dame 🤝 Giannis
(via @Bucks)
pic.twitter.com/8MAvYClMRj8:43 PM
Jim Owczarski @JimOwczarski
⛑Milwaukee #Bucks injury report:
📉Giannis Antetokounmpo’s status has changed for tonight’s game vs. Grizzlies
jsonline.com/story/sports/n… via @journalsentinel – 5:26 PM
StatMuse @statmuse
Most points this season:
1,649 — SGA
1,627 — Giannis
1,606 — Doncic
1,434 — Brunson pic.twitter.com/dQ4Kvv5lOF1:34 PM

StatMuse @statmuse
Players with a 40/15 game this season:
— Giannis
— Embiid
— AD
And Deni Avdija. pic.twitter.com/9uUJJ3dN2E11:32 AM

Eurohoops @Eurohoopsnet
Tyrese Haliburton explains how confusion set in motion events leading to Giannis Antetokounmpo chasing the backup ball after scoring a career-high 64 points against the Pacers
“The Bucks had the ball the whole time”
#NBA
eurohoops.net/en/nba-news/16…11:04 AM
Giannis Antetokounmpo @Giannis_An34
🤑 $3 million grants & services w/ @LegalZoom! Empowering small businesses through #FastBreakForSmallBusiness. Join us @NBA & @WNBA 🏀🚀 Learn more: bit.ly/3uh8tap #LegalZoomPartner pic.twitter.com/ytD3YwviQe10:01 AM

BasketNews @BasketNews_com
Alex Antetokounmpo landed in Lithuania for his next career stint 🛬🇱🇹 pic.twitter.com/eEa69nLpNx9:23 AM

Nick DePaula @NickDePaula
Could we see Giannis one day competing in the Starry 3-Point Contest?
“Never say never,” he says. “Because I really believe in my hard work. I believe I work my butt off. You never know man.” 
This season, he’s taking just 1.8 threes per game, the 4th lowest of his 11 year… pic.twitter.com/SVIsZbXno89:16 AM

Nick DePaula @NickDePaula
BREAKING: Giannis Antetokounmpo is the newest face of Starry, signing on with the Official Soft Drink of the NBA, WNBA & G-League ahead of All-Star Weekend.
Full @Giannis_An34 x @StarryLemonLime story on @Boardroom:
boardroom.tv/giannis-anteto…9:00 AM
Eurohoops @Eurohoopsnet
Giannis Antetokounmpo resurfaces in the wishlist of the Golden State Warriors #NBA
eurohoops.net/en/nba-news/16…7:16 AM
Eric Nehm @eric_nehm
Here is the Bucks injury report for Thursday’s game vs. the Grizzlies in Memphis:
Giannis Antetokounmpo – probable (right knee patellar tendinitis)
Damian Lillard – probable (left ankle inflammation)
Khris Middleton – out (left ankle sprain) – 6:32 PM

More on this storyline

Eric Nehm: Giannis Antetokounmpo had a flight delay because of the weather this morning, so he missed the Eastern Conference’s practice for tomorrow’s All-Star Game, but he did speak with reporters. pic.twitter.com/mxItSUdZ6E -via Twitter @eric_nehm / February 17, 2024
Haliburton shared details on JJ Redick’s podcast about the night and the beef that overshadowed Giannis Antetokounmpo setting the Bucks’ single-game scoring record. Haliburton described the chippiness between teams during and after the game, which Milwaukee won 140-126. “My trainer was sitting courtside, my strength coach growing up, so I walked out, gave him my jersey, whatever. I turned around, and there was some talk, back and forth,” Haliburton said. “You know, the Bucks do the huddle in the middle after games. So there was some talk from that little huddle towards our group as we were walking off. “So I’m watching it as I’m walking off … (assistant coach) Lloyd (Pierce) is waiting for me, and then one of the Bucks assistant coaches is going crazy on the other side,” Haliburton said. “So he’s kinda walking towards LP, and it’s just me and LP out there cause everybody’s gone, so that’s when those two are kind of now having a conversation and I’m in the middle of it, and I’m kinda trying to calm down but I’m also like, ‘C’mon, you can’t walk over here,’ like it’s not that serious.” -via The Athletic / February 17, 2024
“And I think one of our assistants, Mike Weinar, had the basketball — had a basketball, not the basketball, a basketball. And he walked off with it and I think Giannis saw it.” At that point, Antetokounmpo, who was under the belief that the Pacers had taken the game ball and walked off with it, and a few other members of the team raced up the tunnel leading to the Pacers’ locker room and tried to chase them down to get the basketball. After the parties were separated, both teams made their way to their respective locker rooms and the situation appeared to be resolved. However, postgame interviews made the situation more confusing. -via The Athletic / February 17, 2024
Had he been at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, he would have surely been asked about Wembanyama just like Antetokounmpo, the Phoenix Suns’ Kevin Durant and others were. “Man, that dude can achieve anything he wants in this game,” Durant said of Wembanyama. “He’s only getting more comfortable as time goes on. … It’s just insane how dominant he’s going to be as he gets more comfortable in the game. “Luckily, I’m on my way out, so I won’t have to deal with it too much. You just see him settling in game after game after game, and it’s going to be a joy to watch.” -via San Antonio Express-News / February 17, 2024
Tom Osborn: I asked Wemby if he allows himself to look ahead to what the #Spurs can become once the rebuilding is done, even as he adheres to Pop’s mantra of not skipping steps: “I have been told not to skip steps my whole life, but it didn’t stop me from running up the stairs.” -via Twitter @tom_orsborn / February 17, 2024
Eurohoops: Victor Wembanyama speaks for all of us “This match doesn’t ruin my weekend experience. I try to stay professional until the end and do my job, but the truth is, I’m eager for all of this to be over.” pic.twitter.com/IVbmr5o9te -via Twitter @Eurohoopsnet / February 17, 2024





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