With Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James in his 23rd season and limited time remaining in his career, there is no telling how many times he will face off against some of the greats in the NBA.
Particularly when it comes to facing top talent, it is challenging to predict those matchups due to the prevalence of injuries. An example is Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo, as the two parties had not played against each other since 2022.
Thankfully, both James and Antetokounmpo were healthy on Friday night, which led to an intriguing matchup. Both stars had their highlights and the Greek MVP acknowledged how much it means to play against an all-time great that he looks up to.
“It means a lot to me,” Antetokounmpo said. “I got his jersey tonight. I think he is the blueprint for every athlete, not just basketball athletes, on how to be consistent. To be consistent for 23 years, to be available, to be a winner, to lead by example. It is incredible for me to be around greatness and I will never take it for granted. I have the utmost respect for him and his family and the way he has carried himself for 22 years. I think he brings the best out of me as a player and he’s one of those guys that I definitely look up to.”
When it comes to longevity, there is no better example than the 41-year-old and it relates to the Bucks star due to his physical playstyle. If Antetokounmpo can find a way to preserve himself for years to come, he will soon find himself in the all-time conversation.
To produce All-Star caliber numbers despite facing adversity by missing the first 14 games due to injury is impressive, especially given his age. As he nears the end, James is making the impossible possible and opposing players are taking notice.
At the end of the day, the NBA is one big family and seemingly every star player has respect for another. As Antetokounmpo looks to win championships, look no further than James, as he has given himself plenty of opportunities due to taking extreme care of his body for 23 years and possibly more.
Bucks’ Doc Rivers amazed by LeBron James’ sustained success
Another member of the Bucks spoke highly of LeBron James, that being head coach Doc Rivers, as he has spent countless years coaching against him. Looking at what James is doing in his 23rd season, Rivers is amazed by his sustained success for over two decades.
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