Giannis Antetokounmpo Quotes
Basketball Player
I want to become one of the best players, so if you want to be one the best, you have to elevate all aspects of your game.
Just growing up and going through life and how tough life was for me and my family, I'm always going to stay humble.
I've just got to keep working hard, try to get my team better. That's a goal of mine.
Obviously, Kobe is one of the greatest players to ever play the game.
It's my nature to be fearless.
I like living in a smaller place, but I like being in big cities, too, like Athens.
I've got to perfect my game. Keep working.
A lot of people know who I am now. They want a little bit of me, a little bit of my time. But at the end of the day, I still have to remember who I am.
I was selling stuff probably since I could remember, like 6 or 7 years old. I was always out there helping my mom and dad sell watches, glasses, CDs, DVDs, stuff like that. Whatever we could put our hands on. I did it until I was around 17. But I was just doing it because I had to. There was no other option.
You can just never forget where you came from.
I love Milwaukee! I'm going to be in Milwaukee 20 years! I'll be here so long, they'll be sick of me!
I can see the love from people in Milwaukee. I can see that the city wants me to be there for a long time.
We loved our dad. My mom loved her husband. But at the end of the day, I think, he did what he was supposed to do in this world. He had five kids and raised us right. That's the most important thing.
That's the style of basketball I love, playing on the open court.
The night before games, I try to get some shots up. Early on the game day, I come early in the morning to try to get some shots up. I just try to do the same things: go through the scouting, watch some clips before the game, just try to get my body ready.
LeBron James is one of the best players in the league - and one of the best players to ever play the game.
It doesn't matter how you're playing: you've got to be vocal - you've got to be aggressive - if you really want to be one of the best in this league.
Milwaukee is a small-market team, but I love it.
You have so many games to play, and you can do well in one game but bad in the other ones. The thing you've got to be is consistent.
What's the reason I'm playing basketball? I do it because I love it, I do it because of my family, and that's it. I don't do it because of the money. I don't do it because of the fame. I just do it because I love it, and I do it for my family because my family enjoys it.
I love how quiet and calm Milwaukee is.
If you are going to do something, you have to do it for yourself, and that's what I try to do. I try to be authentic and try to be original, so that's what I try to be. A lot of people try to build big brands but have received bad advice, and they don't try to be authentic and real with themselves.
To be one of the best to ever play the game? I think I have the ability to do that. But I've got to work hard. If I just keep talking and don't put some work in, it's not going to happen.
If I can't score, I do whatever I can to support my teammates.
I see myself as a student. Trying to learn everything.
I don't like all these flashy cities like L.A. or Miami. I don't know if I could be the same player if I played in those cities.
I like hip-hop and rock music.
I usually feel that I prefer to hide from people.
The first time I played basketball was with my dad and my older brother Thanasis.
Tim Duncan did it. Dirk Nowitzki did it. I just want to be one of those guys... that stays for the city, play for the city for 20 years.
You never know how life turns out.
You always fight with your brothers.
Sometimes I'm wide open, I've just got to shoot it.
I'm a guy who doesn't really care about glamour and big markets; I like to be home all day.
I know I can get to the basket whenever I want, but I've got to be able to create some plays, like easy plays.
My goal is to win in Milwaukee, bring a championship in the city, and make the team a lot better. So I would never leave for L.A.
I think my rookie, I was just having fun. I was 18, and I was living the American dream.
I never went to college.
I'm a really competitive guy. I'm a really stubborn guy. That's what makes me want to take Milwaukee to the top, make Milwaukee a big market team. That's a goal I've set for myself. Hopefully, one day I can achieve it.
I just stay home all the time. But the things I have learned outside of basketball is you got to take care of your body.
A lot of players will tell you, 'When I was a kid, I watched Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, LeBron, Magic, and I wanted to be just like them.' For me, it wasn't like that at all.
I have worked hard to earn recognition in the NBA, and being on the cover of 'NBA 2K19' is a dream come true.
The Bucks and John Hammond chose me in the draft, got me in the NBA, kept me in the team with a role from my very first season, and they are my basketball family.
I'm just trying to be the best basketball player I can be, you know, move the ball.
I like Rice Krispie treats. I like Skittles and Snickers.
Before I leave this earth, I'm going to help people have a better future.
My favorite movie is 'Coming to America' by Eddie Murphy.
Music is a huge part of my life when I am on the road, working out, or preparing for a game. It is something I always go back to, and it is something that motivates me. It gets me hype before a game.
Even if I'll be an All Star or Rookie of The Year, I will always be humble Giannis.
It's such a long season, and there's so many games, so many trips, you've got to build habits and be consistent with what you do.
There's a lot of big guys who can play-make. We put labels like, 'Oh, he's a point guard, he's a center.' But sometimes your center can play-make for you and not just be the center, boxing out for rebounds and playing in the post.
I'm gonna have some nights when it's not gonna come. But if you keep playing natural, it's just gonna come. I'm gonna keep getting better, keep getting better, and one day, everything's gonna pay off.
I can be a little cocky.
Because my parents were illegal, they couldn't trust anybody. They were always nervous. A neighbor could be like, 'These people are making too much noise, their children are making too much noise,' and the cops could knock at our door and ask for our papers, and that's it. It's that simple. So you're always a little closed.
I can't take my mind off basketball.
Gregg Popovich is among the greatest coaches ever.
I'm a humble kid. I grew up with Filathlitikos. There were some people in Filathlitikos that taught to me how to stay humble. It was coach Tzivas that never allowed me to get carried away. That's who I am.
Whatever I try to do, I always try to give it my best and try to be a killer because, at the end of the day, if you don't work hard, you are not going to get food on your table.
Every coach has a different style and approach.
I hope to play in the NBA for many seasons, establish my position, and win titles.
When I was young and I could dream a bit, I could see myself participating in the slam dunk contest. I've always wanted to experience that.
I'm loyal to the people I work with.
I cannot take 30 jumpers a game. Got to have a balance. You've got to get your teammates involved.
Dirk Nowitzki is the best European player, for me, that's ever played the game. He's an unbelievable talent.
I'm serious about it, and I want to spend my money wise. I'm not going to throw away any money.
It's good to know that your coach cares about you.
Persistent in life? I think, yes, I am. I'm going to do something until I get it right.
The things that Dirk has done for this league and for the Dallas Mavericks, it's unbelievable. And Coach Kidd was a teammate of Dirk, so for Jason Kidd to compare me with Dirk Nowitzki, it feels nice. It's a nice compliment.
Losing someone you love is tough.
I like to score when I can, but if I can't do that, I like to do the other things - defense, blocking, rebounding.
I'm going to do whatever it takes for me and my team to be successful.
It's hard when the season ends and you're not waking up no more for practices, games. You're not in your routine no more.
I just try to stay grounded.
Leading your family is a lot tougher than basketball.
I am honored to be the first international player featured on the cover of 'NBA 2K19.'
I'm a low-profile guy.
Me and my mother, we both love Eddie Murphy.
I want to be an all-around basketball player.
I think for a guy like me, low-profile guy, it's better being in Milwaukee.
When LeBron came into the league, I was 9 years old. So I grew up watching him play.
With back-to-backs, a lot of games, sometimes you think, 'I've got to take a day off today.' But you have to push through it. The greats did.
At first, when my agent told me, 'They want you to do an interview, a piece for '60 Minutes,' I was like, 'What is '60 Minutes?''
Of course, I know by growing older, I'm going to become stronger, smarter, and know the game better.
I know that guys can't guard me one-on-one.
I think my jump shot could get a lot, lot better. I could become a really big threat out there.
I watched a lot of Scottie Pippen, Magic Johnson, Kevin Durant, and a lot of Paul Pierce. I used to watch Tracy McGrady as well along with Kevin Garnett.
When you're young, it's hard to lead people that are older than you.
I'm really scared of failing.
Milwaukee is really quiet. The people here are really respectful. They can see me in the street, walking on the road. I can go to anyplace in Milwaukee without people being all over me. I appreciate that.
I get up in the morning, I take a shower, and I go to practice. When I'm finished, the only thing that's on my mind is to go back home and spend time with my family.
I always had to be there for my family. I think that helped me a lot to adjust to the NBA.
My dad was a soccer player. He didn't know anything about basketball - nothing.
I'm one of the best players in the league.
You can never come back fresher after the all-star break. I always try to do what I do, try to take care of my body, get some weights in, feel a little bit stronger and ready to push through 25 games.
Just every day try to be a leader, try to get better and to help my team win. I just want to be more vocal, like talk more so my teammates can know I got their back.
I wanted to be a soccer player.
I try to come in, try to defend, help on defense, play as hard as possible and do whatever my coach and my teammates tell me and try to listen and get better.
It starts with my family. That drives me every day, just seeing them smiling.
I am a boring guy, I think.