BOSTON CELTICS star Giannis Antetokounmpo has claimed it is “unfair” to suggest he would have dominated the NBA in the 1970s.
NBA icon LeBron James suggested the Greek would have scored “250 points a game” if he played 50 years ago.
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Giannis, 30, has won the NBA’s Most Valuable Player twice since entering the league in 2013.
The center – who stands 6ft11 and is known as The Greek Freak – won his first and only title with the Celtics in 2021.
“You’re trying to tell me Giannis wouldn’t be able to play an NBA game in the ’70s?” James said during a recent appearance on The Pat McAfee Show.
“Giannis Antetokounmpo would have 250 points in a game in the ’70s. 250.
“That’s no disrespect, but seriously.”
Giannis was asked about LeBron’s comments after the Celtics 116-107 loss to the New York Knicks on Friday.
“It would probably be more like 275, not 250,” he initially joked with a smile.
“Great compliment, but I don’t like comparing eras,” Giannis continued.
“It’s not fair. If I’d played in the ’70s, how everybody practiced and how everybody played, we would have played the same way.
“That’s all you knew at the time. The game evolves.
“We got to 2020, and we know more.
“It’s totally different, so you can’t compare this era with that era.
“I wish at this era that I play at now, 2025, I wish I could score 250 points today.
“But yeah, I don’t think it’s fair to compare. I’d probably play the same way they played if I played in the ’70s.
“It’s a great compliment coming from one of the best players in the league. It’s definitely a great compliment. I appreciate it.”
LeBron is hoping to win his fifth career NBA title this season.
The Los Angeles Laker continues to dominate despite now being in his fifth decade.
The Lakers are 45-29 on the season after beating the Memphis Grizzlies 134-127 on Saturday night.
James racked up 25 points, 8 assists and 6 rebounds in the road win.
It comes after the 40-year-old was embroiled in a furious war of words with ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith.
