Giannis Antetokounmpo is an icon, but one could argue that playing in Milwaukee puts a cap on his popularity. With stars like Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander drawing attention, Antetokounmpo’s bruising style has been overlooked in 2024, even by other small-market standouts. But quietly, the Greek Freak has been building his resume.
He reached a key milestone in the Milwaukee Bucks’ win over the Dallas Mavericks, scoring 32 points to become the 52nd player in NBA history to reach 20,000 career points. The last active player to hit the mark? His teammate, sharpshooter Damian Lillard, who had a congratulatory message for the Bucks’ star.
Damian Lillard Welcomes Giannis Antetokounmpo to the 20K Club
A simple pick-and-roll between the two superstars set up Antetokounmpo’s historic bucket, an easy layup at the rim. The shot pushed his career total to 20,000 points, with a career average of 23.8 points per game.
Averaging at least 27 points for eight straight seasons, the two-time MVP has been one of the league’s most consistent scorers over the past decade. As he joined Lillard in the 20K club, the former Trail Blazer took to Instagram to congratulate him.
“Welcome to the club, brother @giannis_an34,” Lillard wrote. The Bucks’ official X account later shared the post, captioning it, “Elite company.”
Elite company. pic.twitter.com/ss9mn6nPMV
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) March 6, 2025
Not only is Antetokounmpo one of just seven active players to reach 20,000 points, but he’s also the sixth-youngest player to hit the milestone. The only ones ahead of him? Kevin Durant, Kobe Bryant, Wilt Chamberlain, Michael Jordan, and LeBron James.
What makes his achievement even more impressive is how his career started. Outside of Bryant, the other four were immediate superstars with major roles on their teams. But for Antetokounmpo, it took time to develop into a dominant force.
Entering the league without much pedigree, he slowly built his game. It wasn’t until his fourth season that he averaged more than 20 points per game, and the following year, he emerged as an MVP candidate.
Since then, he has compiled one of the most impressive resumes in NBA history: two MVPs, a Defensive Player of the Year award, an NBA championship, and a Finals MVP. His crowning moment? Dropping 50 points in the 2021 NBA Finals to secure Milwaukee’s second championship.
