sportskeeda
GIANNIS Antetokounmpo stresses that individual accolades aren’t his driving force, even as he approaches a significant milestone in his career.
The 30-year-old Milwaukee Bucks star is on the brink of achieving a feat that has only been accomplished by LeBron James.
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The Bucks are set to take on the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Cup final at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Tuesday night.
A victory at the arena would add the NBA Cup to Antetokounmpo’s already impressive collection, which includes an NBA championship, two league MVP titles, and an NBA Finals MVP award.
Only LeBron James has achieved this status, having led the Los Angeles Lakers to triumph in the inaugural in-season tournament last year.
Nevertheless, Giannis remains focused on the process rather than personal achievements.
“I don’t concentrate on that,” he asserted.
“I aim to compete, perform at my best, and continually enhance my game.”
“By adopting this mindset, milestones such as participating in the NBA Cup final and winning a championship usually take care of themselves.”
“Focusing on winning the MVP won’t lead to success.
“If you center your thoughts on yourself, you won’t engage with the game in the right way.”
Giannis added, “I’ve always wanted to be recognized as one of the all-time greats, just like every child who picks up a basketball.
Giannis Antetokounmpo carries a ‘bad taste’ from a previous loss in Las Vegas that marred his birthday, emphasizing his ‘unfinished business’
“As a kid in the backyard, practicing my dribbling, I dreamed of hitting that game-winning shot or dunking on someone.
“Those dreams linger, but realizing them requires much more effort.”
Meanwhile, James is set to turn 40 later this month and continues to deliver remarkable performances.
Giannis commented, “I have great respect for players who have paved the way for us; what he has achieved is phenomenal and unmatched.
“I definitely wish to keep playing for as long as possible, ideally until I’m 45, or until my body permits.”
Understanding the NBA Cup Format
The NBA Cup is back for its second season this year, with the finals again taking place in Las Vegas.
The 30 teams participating were split into six groups of five, with games arranged for Tuesdays and Fridays from November 12 to December 3.
The six group leaders, along with the two best wild card teams, will advance to the quarterfinals on December 10 and 11.
The final four teams will then head to Las Vegas for the semifinals on December 14, culminating in the championship game on December 17.
All matches count towards the regular-season standings except the championship game.
“LeBron has set the precedent for us and provided a model that we should emulate.”
The Bucks secured their place in the final by overcoming the Atlanta Hawks 110-102 in the semifinals, with Antetokounmpo scoring 32 points.
On the opposite side, the Oklahoma City Thunder triumphed over the Houston Rockets with a commanding 111-96 win in the other semifinal.
The Thunder are currently leading the Western Conference, with just five losses this season, trailing only the Cleveland Cavaliers.
“This presents a great challenge for us,” said Thunder coach Mark Daigneault.
“We faced them on the road late last year, and they really showcased their strength in that matchup. It was a pivotal game for us.
“Prior to that, we were having an excellent season, but we encountered a team that was fully prepared to dominate, and they did. They were physically superior.
“That experience was invaluable—it served as a wake-up call. It stressed the importance of physicality, focus, and all the other elements necessary to succeed against a strong team; they highlighted our flaws that night.”
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