Bucks Star Giannis Antetokounmpo - Photo by Behind The Buck Pass
MILWAUKEE, WI (WSAU) – Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo is coming out in support of American sprinter Noah Lyles’ comments on U.S. professional sports calling themselves world champions.
Antetokounmpo, who is from Greece, discussed Lyles’ “World champion of what?” comments during an interview with the 48 Minutes podcast, saying, “I wanted to back him up so bad, you know. He received so much backlash for saying the obvious.”
“I don’t think in any other sport you are called the world champions. You know, like in soccer, which is way bigger than the NBA and more popular than the NBA. When the Champions League, the UEFA Champions League, you know, champions, they don’t say the world champion, you know. When they win the World Cup, they play against the USA team, they play against the teams around the world, you know, countries around the world, and then they say world champions,” Antetokounmpo stated.
He continued by adding, “You know, I don’t say that there are other teams out there that can beat the Denver Nuggets, for example. I’m not saying that. But you’re going to have to respect, you know, those teams and say, Yeah, I’m the NBA champ, I’m the VTB champ, I’m the Euro League champ, I’m the Greek champ, I’m the Spanish champ, I’m the French league champ.”
For decades, the best players from all over the world have played and some have won championships in the NBA, including Dirk Nowitzki, Hakeem Olajuwon, Pau Gasol, Tony Parker, and current players such as Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic, and Rudy Gobert. USA’s men’s basketball teams have also dominated the Olympic games since the first games were held back in 1936, winning 16 gold medals, one silver medal, and two bronze medals in 19 Olympic appearances.
Team USA fell short of winning a bronze medal in the 2023 FIBA World Cup over the weekend after losing to Team Canada 127-118 behind Houston Rockets guard Dillon Brooks, who scored 39 points, prompting stars such as LeBron James, Devin Booker, Stephan Curry, Anthony Davis, Jayson Tatum, and Draymond Green to state that they are interested in playing for the USA in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
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