“He can be the best American player,” Chris Broussard said of Anthony Edwards. Be it tennis or basketball, many players across the sports world have been compared to Michael Jordan. However, very few have been acknowledged by the 6x NBA champion. One is the Timberwolves star, who made ripples in the Olympics this year. Another is “Greek Freak” Giannis Antetokounmpo. But looking back at the surreal moment of meeting His Airness for the first time, Giannis was awestruck and felt that the legend quietly passed the torch to him.

In an episode of the Thanalysis Show, the Milwaukee Bucks star, Antetokounmpo, recalled the time he met Jordan. This was an almost iconic and unbelievable moment for him. It was at the NBA’s Top 75 ceremony during the 2022 All-Star Game. The Greek star expressed the immense reverence and admiration he has for MJ. He was quite surprised when he saw that Jordan knew him and had witnessed his game.

As he introduced himself, shook hands with Jordan, he recalled, “I’m making my way just to shake his hand, just to embrace him, just to be in his aura…the way he looked at me, the way he embraced me, he was like, kind of like, I felt like he was passing over the league to me.”

He further added, “As a kid from Greece, 27 years old, I’m like, I don’t know if he watch basketball no more, he never comes around, so does he really know what I do and all that, but like he, look at me, it’s like ‘the way you play hard is inspiring.” 

Jordan also met other international players, including Luka Dončić. However, the highest praise was perhaps received by Anthony Edwards, the first overall pick of the 2020 NBA Draft. While some have had odd assumptions involving Jordan and Anthony, one thing many might agree on is the similarity between Jordan and the Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony’s playing styles.

Broussard on First Things First explained his take and said, “I think he can be the best American player, maybe the face of the league, at least American players, he’s not going to ever be in the goat conversation. As great as he will be, he’s not gonna be in a GOAT conversation but stylistically?” 

He also confirmed Jordan’s stance on it. “Well, I reached out to the GOAT today. Michael Jordan said there are similarities in their games, he agreed!” he said. And well, Antetokounmpo is not very far when it comes to this one record.

Giannis Antetokounmpo is just a step away from tying a record with Michael Jordan

Jordan is undeniably one of the most celebrated players in the NBA. And just one more step for the Greek star, and he will be mentioned in the same breath as Jordan. The Chicago Bulls legend holds a record of 9 NBA trophies. Apart from six NBA championships, Jordan won six NBA Finals MVPs, five regular season MVPs, and two Defensive Player of the Year awards.

His celebrated career boasts 3 NBA All-Star MVP honors. The 10x NBA scoring champion also holds records as a 3-time steals champion, Rookie of the Year, and a 2x Slam Dunk Contest winner. One player who has already managed to tie the record with Jordan is Lakers veteran LeBron James, who also boasts 9 different titles.

And the Milwaukee Bucks star Antetokounmpo isn’t far behind with his 8 different titles. Apart from his 2 NBA Cup Finals MVP titles, he boasts two regular season MVPs, an All-Star MVP, and more. The Greek star still has plenty of time to go neck and neck with Jordan, or might even surpass him. After all, it is always unpredictable.