5 NBA superstars that will never surpass Kobe Bryant all-time
3) Giannis Antetokounmpo
Maniacal, psychotic, and ruthless against his opponents, just like his predecessor Bryant, no one embodies that more in today's game in the "Greek Freak," Giannis Antetokounmpo. Coming in as the 15th overall pick from Greece as a skinny 6'9, 195 lb forward who barely knew English and was raw all the way around, no one saw him morphing into what he is today. Antetokounmpo's hunger and desire to win and learn are eerily similar to Bryant's.
Bryant knew he [Antetokoumpo] had all the tools to be special before he became the champion, multi-time MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, and perennial All-NBA and All-Star player. He's now renowned as one of the world's most respected players and athletes.
No one saw him becoming a back-to-back MVP and being one of three players (Jordan, David Robinson) to win MVP and DPOY in the same season. He's also one of five players (Jordan, Olajuwon, Robinson, and Garnett) to have won MVP and DPOY throughout their careers. Talk about cerebral company.
Before he won a title, many wondered if his bully style of ball, with a lack of a consistent jumper, could win a championship in the new pace and space of the NBA, but he would prove the doubters wrong. Antetokounmpo led the Bucks to their first title since 1971 in 2021, ending a 50-year title drought for the organization.
He not only ended the drought, but he did it historically with a 50-point master class while shooting a shocking 17/19 from the foul line against the Phoenix Suns in Game 6 of the 2021 NBA Finals.
Antetokounmpo has been a unanimous All-NBA First Team selection for six consecutive seasons and eight consecutives overall. Since winning the 2021 title, the Bucks have failed to reach the Finals again.
They lost to the Celtics in the semifinal round (albeit without an injured Khris Middleton) and getting bounced out the first round in back-to-back seasons in 2023 and 2024. That was due to Antetokounmpo suffering injuries in both years along with Damian Lillard in 2024, whom they acquired in the Jrue Holiday trade in 2023.
Bryant has won five championships compared to Antetokounmpo's thus far. Bryant also had a more refined skillset with an unstoppable one-on-one game on all three levels. Antetokounmpo is invincible when he gets a full head of steam in transition or when attacking the basket against a set defense.
The thing that has held Bryant has won five championships compared to Antetokounmpo thus far. him back from perhaps more titles and being the undisputed best player in the league is a consistent jumper from the outside, shooting a career 28% from three and 36% from 10-16 feet per Basketball Reference.
Antetokounmpo is now approaching 30 years of age with an aging team around him in Lillard (34) and Middleton (32) who have dealt with their fair share of injuries over the years. Can he win a couple more titles to one day be in the same conversation as Bryant all the time? That remains to be seen.