Being a former Defensive Player of the Year winner, Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo is considered an authority when it comes to defense in the NBA.
This is exactly why it would be very interesting to learn who the former back-to-back MVP considers to be the toughest defensive matchups in the league.
Thankfully, this is the exact question Giannis was asked in a recent interview. Unfortunately, his response was not the one fans were expecting.
Feb 6, 2024; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) against the Phoenix Suns at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
The first names that would come to mind for most fans would probably be the likes of LeBron James, Nikola Jokic, and Joel Embiid, to name a few. Antetokounmpo, however, had other ideas.
To be fair, you can’t really fault the man for his own personal opinion. This just goes to show how much love and respect Giannis has for his three brothers.
You can also imagine the type of basketball matchups the Antetokounmpo’s had growing up. For Giannis to even come out with this statement speaks volumes of the level of competition between the siblings.
Nov 26, 2023; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee forward Thanasis Antetokounmpo (43) during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
If you noticed, Giannis had a bit of a sly smile on his face when he named his three brothers as his most compelling defensive matchups. Perhaps he was just kidding around? On a more serious day, we probably could get a more legitimate take from the Bucks talisman.