In the wake of the Milwaukee Bucks' 128-119 triumph over the Houston Rockets on Sunday, two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo achieved yet another milestone by surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the franchise's all-time leading rebounder.
Antetokounmpo secured his 7,162nd career rebound, concluding the game with an impressive performance of 26 points and 17 rebounds. The victory not only halted Houston's five-game winning streak but also marked the Bucks' fourth consecutive triumph.
Bucks coach Adrian Griffin, wearing a smile, remarked, "And I think we got the game ball," alluding to the recent incident where Antetokounmpo engaged in a heated exchange with the Indiana staff over the game ball after his remarkable 64-point game.
True to Griffin's words, Antetokounmpo had the game ball by his side in the locker room, commemorating the record with an inscription by Bucks assistant equipment manager Eric Ofcharsky. Antetokounmpo, revealing his practice of keeping a locked office at home for basketballs, trophies, and memorabilia, expressed his intention to add this ball to his collection.
March 2022 saw Antetokounmpo become the team's all-time scoring leader, breaking another record previously held by Abdul-Jabbar.
"It's a big honour," Antetokounmpo acknowledged. "I don't think anybody assumed the skinny kid from Greece that was drafted and supposed to play in the G-League was going to be in a position to break a Kareem Abdul-Jabbar record."
With three players scoring at least 20 points in Sunday's win, including Khris Middleton and Damian Lillard, Antetokounmpo solidified his dominance in the Bucks' record books, joining the ranks of Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and Kevin Garnett as the only players to lead a franchise in points, rebounds, and assists.
Antetokounmpo, already holding several franchise records, expressed his commitment to maintaining a high level of play. Despite his accomplishments, he remains focused on continuous improvement.
While Antetokounmpo reigns in numerous categories, he humorously admitted to Middleton that he still lacks the record for made 3-pointers, held by Middleton himself. In response, Antetokounmpo playfully asserted, "I'm going to get that one too, Khris. It might take me 20 years, but I'm going to get it."
