Giannis Antetokounmpo humbly shoots down LeBron James’ ‘250 points in the 70s’ take

LeBron James' comment on Giannis Antetokounmpo dominating the 70s gets a humble and non-provoking reply from the Bucks superstar.

Giannis Antetokounmpo humbly shoots down LeBron James’ ‘250 points in the 70s’ take

Giannis, LeBron James (Images via IG)

When LeBron James went on The Pat McAfee Show and started blasting on everything and everyone, he created some of the most iconic sports quotes to have come out in the 2020s. James took aim at fans, reporters, talking heads, and former players alike, sparing no one the blushes. His ‘don’t-give-a-damn-what-you-think’ attitude through the course of the interview was a refreshing change of pace.

One of the soundbites to become prominent from that appearance was his take on physicality in past versions of the NBA. LeBron James has had to spend 22 years in the league listening to how he wouldn’t be able to dominate in the past. It is a preposterous notion, but many old heads keep playing it up. The thought of a 6’9″, 260 lbs athletic freak with a 44-inch vertical not being able to adapt to more physicality is pure folly.

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James wanted to put a dent into such a notion, and he claimed that Giannis Antetokounmpo would ‘score 250 points’ if he played in the 70s. James’ comments caused a tidal wave of dialogue on social media as people flocked to the discussion.

After two days of relentless and vitriolic exchanges between both factions, it came Giannis Antetokounmpo’s turn to address this following the Milwaukee Bucks’ defeat to the New York Knicks. The Greek Freak opted for the classy route, respecting his elders and predecessors while cracking a dad joke.

I’ll say…yeah I don’t know about that take, I’d say it’s a wrong take. I’d say 275, not 250 (laughs). Great compliment, but I don’t like comparing eras. It’s not fair, and you know, if I 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.

Giannis Antetokounmpo answered reporters

Furthermore, the two-time MVP spoke about how the game evolved over time. This makes the comparison of multiple eras as not ‘fair’, according to the Bucks superstar.

You know, the game evolves. We’ve got to 2020 and we know more. People will shoot the ball from half-court. Towns (Karl-Anthony) trailing every time and he’s able to catch the ball and shoot it – he’s a threat. It’s totally different, so you cannot compare this era with that era. I wish that this era I played in – 2025 – I wish I could score 250 points today. But yeah, I don’t think it’s fair to compare because I’d probably play the same way that they played.

Giannis Antetokounmpo answered reporters

How Giannis Antetokounmpo won an easy battle that LeBron James lost

LeBron James’s frustration with modern-day sports media is palpable and comes from an understandable place. While he’s undoubtedly the most praised athlete of the 21st century, he’s also the most critiqued player at the same time. The same segment of sports media that plays him up for his achievements also puts him down in comparison to the past. But it never costs anything to zip it and acknowledge the importance of the past.

Giannis Antetokounmpo may not have faced even a fifth of the criticism that James faces. But how he answered the question about his possible dominance in the 70s was in line with every other basketball legend. Michael Jordan might have boasted about his GOAT status to players, but he was always respectful to media members when speaking about players before his time. He always maintained that he ‘couldn’t know’ if he would beat the likes of Jerry West, Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell.

What Jordan and ‘The Greek Freak’ understood was that a player’s words to the media are usually influential for fans and impact how they view and appreciate the sport. Moreover, they want fans to admire the sport of basketball throughout its evolution, instead of just its current form. This simple, yet illustrative concept is somehow lost on James, especially given his answers on The Pat McAfee Show.