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‘A Crazy Story’: Giannis Antetokounmpo Reveals Why He Didn’t Engage with LeBron James on the Courtside

Published 07/20/2021, 12:00 AM EDT

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USA Today via Reuters

Giannis Antetokounmpo is probably the most interesting and candid athlete when it comes to giving interviews. English being his second language and honesty being his character trait, the man cites funny and honest lines every time he speaks. 

One must remember how he broke down his historic Game 4 block on Deandre Ayton with utmost accuracy. It was like listening to Cavaliers’ LeBron James detailing his Game 1 rally against the Celtics and showcasing his photographic memory. Which leads to the question, did Giannis meet Bron on the courtside during Game 5?

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Giannis Antetokounmpo on having LeBron James in the same arena

Game 5 in Phoenix Arena was nothing less than a Met Gala event. It had stars like Vanessa Hudgens and Adele in the audience rooting for the Suns. However, the spotlight was more on LeBron James who was there to support Chris Paul just as the latter had done for Bron when he was in his first NBA Finals.

Now, in an interview, a reporter questioned Giannis if he exchanged words with King James. In response, the 26-YO exclaimed, “Crazy! Yeah, first time he was in the Finals was in 2007, I wasn’t playing basketball, that’s crazy to think about. Yeah, I noticed it’s LeBron James, he was sitting right across our bench. Didn’t have the chance to engage with him, wouldn’t want to engage with him, something I don’t do, doesn’t matter who, it might be my mother, I don’t engage with mom while I’m playing. I just focus as much as possible.” 

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That’s Giannis being true to his competitive core because no one in a championship mindset would meet an opponent’s supporter. Not at least when the game is on!

via Imago

Giannis Antetokounmpo Will Fulfill This Kobe Bryant Prophecy if Bucks Beat Suns in the NBA Finals

The Greek Freak revealed something about the night prior to Game 5

An NBA Finals series can be extremely stressful and the players need time to rejuvenate in the middle of the game nights. So for Giannis, it was Space Jam: A New Legacy for him to overcome the pressure and chill before Game 5.

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In the same interview, the Freak added, “But this is a crazy story, this is not a promo. The night before I was watching Space Jam on HBO and there he goes, he’s at the courtside, sitting.”

This self-initiated revelation surprised the media too and explained how Giannis is an open book when it’s about answering tough questions. 

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Now, if Giannis Antetokounmpo wins the NBA title, one can hope Warner Bros soon approach him for a possible Space Jam 3. But until that happens, the Freak can keep making his case stronger with those Bron-styled blocks and such entertaining interviews.

Watch this story – Rarely Known Facts about Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo

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Written by:

Sourabh Singh

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Sourabh Singh is an NBA sports analyst for EssentiallySports, who has been working with the site since May 2020. Prior to this, he functioned as Managing Editor at WittyFeed, followed by a stint at Decathlon. The Sports Management graduate leads an active lifestyle, veering to the mountains for off-trail adventures.
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