Counting rings has become a touchy subject when attempting to evaluate a player's legacy. Debates regarding Michael Jordan and LeBron James often focus on the number of championships each individual has won, and this line of thinking extends towards other NBA talents.
Last month, NBA analyst and former player, Kendrick Perkins claimed that Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo could cement his legacy by winning a second title.
"Giannis is one NBA championship away of cementing himself as the second-greatest power forward of all time right behind Tim Duncan," Perkins said on ESPN's "NBA Countdown."
NBA analyst shares the one elusive thing Giannis Antetokounmpo needs to cement his legacy
"Giannis is one NBA championship away of cementing himself as the second-greatest power forward of all time right behind Tim Duncan." 🔥
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) December 7, 2024
— @KendrickPerkins on Giannis Antetokounmpo's place among the NBA's all-time greats 👀 pic.twitter.com/WDa0CLPhPU
Of course, Giannis won his first NBA Finals in 2021 when the Bucks defeated the Phoenix Suns in six games. The Greek Freak averaged 30.2 points and 12.8 rebounds during the postseason run. Additionally, he took home NBA Finals MVP honors.
The Bucks have not had great playoff success since 2021. After falling to the Boston Celtics in the second round of the 2022 tournament, they experienced first-round exits in both 2023 and 2024. Despite what Giannis has said about "failure" being an obsolete notion, Milwaukee has certainly missed opportunities to win another championship.
Perkins' claim comes during what has been a trying season for the Bucks. Their rough start to the season left many wondering if the pairing of Giannis and Damian Lillard was a winning recipe and if head coach Doc Rivers was the right hire.
Milwaukee has been better as of late. They are currently in the middle of the Eastern Conference standings and could contend for a top seed if they get hot at the right time. It appears as though Giannis will have another chance to bring home the hardware, but he would likely have to go through some truly challenging matchups to accomplish this.
It is clear that Giannis has already established himself as one of the best talents the game has ever seen. As Perkins suggested, if he were to win another ring, it may warrant a closer look at where he ranks among the all-time greats.