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USA Today via Reuters

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USA Today via Reuters

One can change his fate, and Giannis Antetokounmpo has his life as a specimen to prove that. From selling stuff on the streets of Greece to finding his mother struggling to get an American VISA, the man has seen it all in his struggles from rags to riches. 

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It so happens that most dreamers quit on their dreams, not realizing that perseverance is the key. But with Giannis, even the nerve-wrenching playoff knockouts in 2019 and 2020 (after topping EC) didn’t stop him from believing in himself and his herd of Bucks. That resilience & candor in his faith has now made him eligible for the sport’s greatest honor.

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Giannis Antetokounmpo and his Hall of Fame seal

On August 25th, 2020, Giannis Antetokounmpo won DPOY and then received his MVP trophy in the next 24 days. Eleven months to that recognition, the Greek Freak was riding in his car and carrying an NBA title and an FMVP trophy. Within that span, the star claimed an ASG MVP, 2x All-NBA First team, and 2x All-Def 1st team selections. 

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Now, this meant that he went from being a top 10 power forward to becoming a first-ballot NBA Hall of Famer. In no time, Giannis made his HOF selection five years post his retirement a no-brainer.

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USA Today via Reuters

The Freak is just a 26-YO right now, and cementing his place or even making one such case for himself is commendable. All this is a result of his absolute faith in his team, his loyalty towards the Bucks, and his innate hunger to keep asking for more. 

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Read more – ‘Easier for Us to Win’: Bucks Co-owner Explains the Importance of Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Decision to Stay

Can he make a shot at the GOAT conversation?

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Well, back in 2015, it was almost impossible to see if Giannis could touch the HOF level in just six years down the line. However, the genius pain dominator made it happen. So today, even as he looks far from touching the legacy of Michael Jordan & LeBron James, he has the right ingredients to make it happen.

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The next moment, after lifting his first championship, the Freak was thinking about putting the effort into winning a second. He knows that just one win would always carry an asterisk, and he is not somebody who can swallow that. 

Watch this story – Luka Doncic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Other European Players Who Came to the NBA and Rose to Fame

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Remember, it was Giannis’ 100% FG performance that helped Team LeBron win the ASG 2021. Is it just a matter of time before he takes complete control of the throne? Help us know your opinion in the comments section below.

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Sourabh Singh

1,743 Articles

Sourabh Singh is the Editor-in-Chief at EssentiallySports. A Sports Management diploma holder, Sourabh began his media career in 2015 at a fast-growing startup. He started out as a sports writer covering the NBA, UFC, Tennis, and the off-field lives of American athletes, before transitioning into a Managing Editor role. Thereafter, Sourabh joined ES in 2020, marking an end to a brief stint at Decathlon. Since then, he has led the editorial team with a sharp focus on journalistic integrity, accuracy, and mentorship. Under his leadership, the team has grown into a dynamic newsroom that consistently delivers trusted sports coverage to millions of satisfied readers.

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