NBA: Antetokounmpo surprised to know Coach Kidd was a great player

Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks. AFP photo/TIMOTHY A. CLARY

Current Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo grew up in the streets of Athens, Greece and admittedly did not know much about the NBA growing up.

His current coach Jason Kidd was one heck of a point guard before trading the ball for a clipboard, and surprisingly, the 22-year-old stud did not know much about his coach’s playing career either.

As detailed in an article from Sports Illustrated, the ‘Greak Freak’ grew furious at his mentor after suffering a ‘DNP-CD’ (Did-Not-Play Coach’s decision) during Kidd’s first coaching year with the team in 2014.

“I was like, ‘Let’s see what this guy did in his career, anyway,’” Antetokounmpo recounted, and did a quick Google search of Kidd’s bio on his phone.

The brash, young player was quickly put in his place, as the 6’11 lanky star discovered Kidd’s long list of accolades as a 10-time All-Star player, and being one of the game’s all-time greats.

“I saw Rookie of the Year, NBA championship, USA Olympic gold medal, second in assists, fifth in made threes, blah, blah, blah. I was like, ‘Jesus freaking Christ, how can I compete with that? I better zip it,” he shared.

Since the hysterical incident, the two have developed quite a strong bond and the results have been undeniable.

Under Kidd’s tutelage, Antetokounmpo currently leads Milwaukee in every major statistical category—23.8 points, 9.0 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 1.9 blocks and 1.9 steals—and is on pace to become the Bucks’ first All-Star since Michael Redd in 2004.

He is on his fourth season with the Wisconsin-based franchise, and has blossomed from his unlikely transition into taking the crucial point guard position. Khristian Ibarrola