Calling Giannis Antetokounmpo an underachiever feels like calling thunder just noise. It’s loud, bold, and misses the point. Yet Stephen A. Smith stood firm on national TV and made that very claim. Sure, Giannis has just one ring, but he gave the Milwaukee Bucks a moment frozen in gold. Still, the comment sparked some flames in the basketball world.

And before the debate spiraled too far, Brian Windhorst stepped in, trying to balance passion with perspective. NBA analyst Jay Williams didn’t mince words when he ripped SAS on First Take for his statement on the Greek Freak.

Meanwhile, Windy clarified, “Here’s the problem. Giannis agrees with Stephen A. Giannis has pretty much said these exact words—that if he only won one championship… I don’t know if he used the word ‘underachiever,’ I don’t have the quotes in front of me, but he’s pretty much said it.”

Now, before diving deeper, let’s understand where Stephen A.’s comment might have emerged. In April 2025, the Greek Freak appeared on his brother, Thanasis’s, podcast and said, “Me not having a second championship – I look back at my career and everybody can say, ‘Oh, incredible career, active Hall of Famer, first ballot, whatever.’ But my personal goal, if I am not able to help my team win a second ring, I’m letting down myself.”

Coming back to Brian Windhorst, the insider also shared, “The reason he’s undecided right now is because of this push-pull. He loves Milwaukee; he has said this. He’s talked about how he came to the United States and was embraced. His whole family was. It is his home. He loves it. But he is conflicted. He knows he wants more. That’s something he’s going through every day right now.”

Just like Luka Doncic found a home in Dallas after crossing the vast Atlantic, Giannis Antetokounmpo also found a home in Milwaukee. Meanwhile, Brian Windhorst found himself walking a tightrope in the middle of the storm. On one side, he stood with Jay Williams, echoing the respect Antetokounmpo has earned. He made it clear. Winning even one championship is a monumental feat. Windy has seen the grind up close and would never let anyone downplay that kind of glory.

However, Windhorst also admitted that Giannis himself feels the weight of expectations. The Greek Freak wants more. He’s said it aloud. That inner conflict, that hunger, is real. So while Jay defended the ring already won, Brian acknowledged the voice inside Giannis that whispers, not yet done. “I have heard Giannis say that he needs to have more than one. So I am compelled by that as well,” Windy concluded.

So, where does that leave Giannis? Somewhere between legacy secured and legacy still under construction. His love for Milwaukee is real. His ambition burns brighter. The tug-of-war between heart and hunger grows louder by the day. And as whispers of his next move swirl, the plot only thickens from here as he finds support from Stephen A. Smith‘s colleagues.

Stephen A. Smith’s “underachiever” comment on Giannis Antetokounmpo brings wrath on First Take

“That was one of your worst takes I’ve heard in a long time, man. That was horrible. I had to…I think we really need to do a better job of reframing some of these conversations,” Jay Williams slammed Stephen A. Smith. He further pointed out, “If you were to say that the franchise, the Milwaukee Bucks, have underachieved or are the biggest underachievers with the talent of Giannis—fair.”

However, Giannis Antetokounmpo is “a guy who has a 50-point closeout game, a guy who’s never chased any of these dream team scenarios, a guy who is a Finals MVP, a guy who’s a multi-time All-Star, All-NBA, All-everything, global face of the game.” To him, labeling Giannis an underachiever is not just wrong—it’s borderline outrageous. He reminded everyone how brutally hard it is to win even one championship, let alone multiple. And the Greek Freak? He delivered the Milwaukee Bucks a crown when it mattered most. That’s greatness.

If Giannis is an underachiever, then what about Iverson, Dirk, KG, and Oscar Robertson? They each have just one title. Yet their legacies shine. Sometimes, one is not just enough—it’s everything. And Jay believes framing matters, especially when greatness is on the line. Now, Giannis Antetokounmpo averaged 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 6.5 assists in 2024–25, yet the Bucks faced their third straight first-round exit. Since 2018–19, they have held the NBA’s best winning percentage. Still, that lone 2021 title keeps haunting the 30-year-old superstar.

Thus, A crown earned under pressure is never a failure. Giannis Antetokounmpo may only have one ring, but it was carved from grit, not luck. Even Brian Windhorst feels his inner conflict. And Jay Williams? He’s not letting anyone rewrite greatness with lazy labels, not even Stephen A. Smith