Stephen A. Smith made a viral hot take when he called Giannis Antetokounmpo an underachiever. It was a surprising take because most people consider Antetokounmpo an all-time great.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is one of the best players in modern history. He was already a fantastic player, proven by his two regular-season MVPs in 2019 and 2020. However, he did not have his success before the 2020-21 season. He cemented his legacy by leading the Milwaukee Bucks to a championship in 2021.
Since then, Antetokounmpo and the Bucks have struggled to compete for a championship. That has led to people like Stephen A. Smith bringing up the 2021 Finals MVP’s legacy.
Smith feels the Greek Freak might become an underachiever. It is an outrageous take that drew a reaction out of Kevin Durant. However, Smith made sure to clear it up on Gilbert Arenas‘ show.
Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty ImagesSmith clarifies his point about Antetokounmpo being an underachiever
Since Smith received criticism for his opinion about Antetokounmpo, he wanted to defend his point. Smith clarified that he never said that the Bucks star is a bad player. The ESPN personality feels indifferent to the Greek Freak’s legacy.
That is a fair assessment, but it is questionable when discussing Antetokounmpo. Outside of the 2021 championship, he still has a good legacy. That includes two MVPs and one Defensive Player of the Year award.
The Bucks star wants a richer legacy, but he is already safe with his success. Smith made sure to discuss his comments and what he meant.
“He’s one of my favorite dudes because he’s a real one. The way people took it, I don’t think people grasp what I’m saying.
“I know that he’s an all-time great. There’s no denying that. Of course he is,” Smith said on Gil’s Arena.
“If the last title he won was in 2021, and he’s never to win a title again. You’re gonna be like ‘What happened?’ You’re not going to blame him, you know it’s the organization.”
“But what I’m saying is, when you’re Giannis Antetokounmpo. As great and phenomenal as you are, it’s not a fault of your own. It’s hard to imagine you won a title in 2021 and other than that, you’ve been going home in the first round.”
The Bucks superstar has secured his legacy
That was a good clarification by Smith. However, he does not realize that Antetokounmpo is already certified for people. He is a household name and is consistently considered one of the best NBA players.
He has also elevated his team to be consistent contenders. The team had good moments in the past, but their last championship was in the 1970s. Antetokounmpo became their leader in the quest for another title.
He might end his career with only one championship, but that does not mean he is a failed player. All-time greats like Dirk Nowitzki and Kevin Garnett both won one title. They still have secure legacies as top players with widespread respect, like LeBron James.
Antetokounmpo still has a lot left in the tank. He has more chances to prove Smith wrong. However, people will always respect Antetokounmpo for making it work in Milwaukee. Among them is Arenas, who regards the Bucks forward as a top-tier superstar.