Kevin Garnett believes Giannis Antetokounmpo is fourth-best player in Eastern Conference

Kevin Garnett believes Giannis Antetokounmpo is fourth-best player in Eastern Conference

If your name is Giannis Antetokounmpo, you took an unexpected stray from Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett earlier this week.

In a recent episode of the KG Certified podcast with Hall of Famer Paul Pierce, the 15-time All-Star labeled the Bucks’ superstar as the fourth-best player in the East as long as Joel Embiid and Jayson Tatum are in the conference.

During this thought exercise, neither Pierce nor Garnett named a third player, so it remains to be seen who else they have above Antetokounmpo.

Though need I remind you that Antetokounmpo is still 29-years-old and is an eight-time All-Star, six-time All-NBA first-team honoree and four-time All-Defensive first-team honoree, a two-time MVP, a winner of the Defensive Player of the Year and, most importantly, an NBA champion.

During the Bucks’ 2020-21 NBA Finals run, he averaged 30.2 points, 12.8 rebounds (NBA-most), one teal and 1.2 blocks per game across 21 games; in six games against the Suns alone, he posted 35.2 points, 13.2 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.8 blocks, including a 50-point, 14-rebound, five-block performance in the championship-clinching Game 6.

Sure, if you’re going to knock him from being a first-round exit each of the last two seasons (which Garnett did in the video), you can’t put a (worse) player who’s never made the conference finals above him. If that’s the sole reason he’s getting knocked down a few pegs, you can’t have it both ways.

Once again, Antetokounmpo is still in the prime of his career and doesn’t appear to be slowing down anytime soon. He’s still a superstar and one of the best players in the sport–him being fourth in his own conference is a clear slight.

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