Giannis Antetokounmpo Tells Young Players To Focus On Basketball, Not Media Exposure

[RealGM Wiretap]

Giannis Antetokounmpo described his confusion over seeing young players more focused on media exposure than getting results on the court. 

“I’m not trying to criticize nobody; everybody can do whatever they want to do. But I see a lot of young players coming out who think that by putting your name in the media you’re going to get the exposure. But at the end of the day, it’s not about the media. If you don’t get it done on the court, it’s not going to get done with media. Like, if I don’t come out tomorrow and try to kick some ass and try to get a win and help my team, media is not going to do that for me. I try to focus on my job, and to finish the season strong, and not try to do (other stuff)," said Antetokounmpo.

Antetokounmpo added that media attention will follow on-court results.  

"I don’t get young players, like why they try to allow so many distractions to get in their heads. They’re all over the place. SLAM magazine. GQ, whatever. Just stay in your lanes, get your job done, and everything else is going to come."

Via Sam Amick/The Athletic

[ThumbsUpBaby]

Love this guy even more.

[Revived]

Giannis has the best personality of any superstar in maybe NBA history.

He’s absolutely right. These young kids are trying to already work on starting their own Klutch and Thirty Five Ventures and all that crap instead of working on their game and being actually good over a few seasons first.

Nobody will give a crap about you if your game sucks. Carmelo Anthony is a good example of this, he had an actual office building in downtown Manhattan for all his off court ventures and yet when he sucked on the court, nobody gave a crap about him.

[likashing]

Damn sounds like he is telling guys to not be like AD. Keeping it real!

Too many guys talking about brands, being CEOs, ventures, etc etc before they have won a handful of playoff rounds.

[WuriderX]

This is what I am talking about. I am so tired of these guys talking about their "brand". That was one of the reasons why Melo went to New York so he could expand his "brand". I love this guy wish more would think like him but again he isn't from here so he came with a clean slate.

[J-Mezzy]

I really like this guy's maturity. He shows more poise than LeBron, KD, and Kyrie..They should take notes.

[br7knicks]

Giannis is great and getting better. He also knows the right way to approach basketball.

Focus on defense and IQ, too. The kids today have no clue. Us Knicks fans are lucky with mitch robinson, but are hurting with guys like Knox and Trier.

[IAMZOOTED2]

Look, I agree Giannis is right. But, it's important to keep in mind that he doesn't have -- and didn't have -- the kind of distraction western youth, specifically American youth have... Social Media; Twitter, Insta, etc., Did Giannis even grow up with a cell phone or even a computer in his house.

Again, he's spot on with his take, but it's important to put things in context, too

[paperboymafia]

Look, I agree Giannis is right. But, it's important to keep in mind that he doesn't have -- and didn't have -- the kind of distraction western youth, specifically American youth have... Social Media; Twitter, Insta, etc., Did Giannis even grow up with a cell phone or even a computer in his house.

Again, he's spot on with his take, but it's important to put things in context, too

Athens/Greece has not had it easy but but they're not in the social dark ages and pretty damned certain he at least had friends with playstations and phones if he didn't I'd say it's more to do with education and importance of different values that are instilled at a young age.

I travel to Africa and even in the middle of the desert in small towns there are cell phones (android, iphones) and social media. Some kids I saw there had far worse relationships to the 'western distractions' than I've seen in the West. It depends on the kid, the parent etc

[Plutonashfan]

Good, gives me hope that not all of these superstars are entitled greddy dickheads.

[Bricks]

Giannis should be careful, he's only 24 calling out 'young' players. Sure he seems mature but 'young' guys are only gonna see a 24yo calling them out.

[jimmy keys]

Love this guy even more.

Yea I can't wait until he's a Raptor in 2 years.

[Donnyxc]

Favorite player in the NBA. Guy just gets it.

[Anti Chalmers]

Look, I agree Giannis is right. But, it's important to keep in mind that he doesn't have -- and didn't have -- the kind of distraction western youth, specifically American youth have... Social Media; Twitter, Insta, etc., Did Giannis even grow up with a cell phone or even a computer in his house.

Again, he's spot on with his take, but it's important to put things in context, too

I traveled across Vietnam and even in the villages they had smartphones and pretty much everyone uses social media or at least have a Facebook account. In the big cities, I see the youth on their phones as much as here in America. It’s not a western distraction anymore, it’s a worldwide problem now.

[Donnyxc]

Giannis has the best personality of any superstar in maybe NBA history.

Some may disagree, but that's Kevin Garnett for me. Your worst enemy on the court, but the best personality and teammate. Short anecdote on the subject of Professionalism:

“He did a lot of good things that people don’t know,” Rivers said. “When rookies came in, he would bring them up to my office. He’d sit them down, and then he would bring his tailor in and say, ‘If you want to be a pro, you’ve got to dress like a pro.’ And he would buy each rookie two suits, and he did it every year. To me, that says a lot about Kevin Garnett as a teammate.”

[Psubs]

Brogdon needs to brand himself and get a huge max contract this summer. He's from Atlanta... they have to at least make an offer.

Atlanta drafts #4 Rui Hachimura and Bol Bol with the Mavs pick.

PG Young - Bembry
SG Brogdon - Bazemore
SF Prince - Huerter
PF Hachimura - Spellman
C Collins - BolBol - Plumlee

I think next season, they could be as good as Orlando, Detroit, Charlotte, etc.

[greggschapiro]

Giannis has the best personality of any superstar in maybe NBA history.

Some may disagree, but that's Kevin Garnett for me. Your worst enemy on the court, but the best personality and teammate. Short anecdote on the subject of Professionalism:

“He did a lot of good things that people don’t know,” Rivers said. “When rookies came in, he would bring them up to my office. He’d sit them down, and then he would bring his tailor in and say, ‘If you want to be a pro, you’ve got to dress like a pro.’ And he would buy each rookie two suits, and he did it every year. To me, that says a lot about Kevin Garnett as a teammate.”

Fun fact: they've worked together a lot

[Johnny Bball]

Look, I agree Giannis is right. But, it's important to keep in mind that he doesn't have -- and didn't have -- the kind of distraction western youth, specifically American youth have... Social Media; Twitter, Insta, etc., Did Giannis even grow up with a cell phone or even a computer in his house.

Again, he's spot on with his take, but it's important to put things in context, too

I traveled across Vietnam and even in the villages they had smartphones and pretty much everyone uses social media or at least have a Facebook account. In the big cities, I see the youth on their phones as much as here in America. It’s not a western distraction anymore, it’s a worldwide problem now.

Yep. And you can pretty much find wifi prety much everywhere in Vietnam (cities)... but try in it a Vegas Hotel lol.

[Rek]

Giannis should be careful, he's only 24 calling out 'young' players. Sure he seems mature but 'young' guys are only gonna see a 24yo calling them out.

I get what you're saying, but, Giannis is just spitting plain truth. If other players are getting all bent about what he's saying here, it likely says more about them than him. Besides, he's already established as an elite talent. It would probably be different if he was just an average 24 yo player.

[hyberx]

I hope LeBron is listening.