Giannis Thread - 13th Season with the Bucks

[MickeyDavis]

Here's some more from Giannis at the convention (it was in Chicago), about his collection

During his appearance at the National Sports Collectors Convention in Chicago on Saturday, Giannis Antetokounmpo shared that he’s looking to add Victor Wembanyama rookie cards and memorabilia to his personal collection, citing his lofty expectations for the 2023 No. 1 pick.

“I want Wemby’s first rookie card ever,” Antetokounmpo said during an appearance alongside his brothers Thanasis, Kostas, and Alex on an eBay Live stream with Goldin Auctions founder Ken Goldin. “I think he’s gonna be one of the best players in the league in the next couple of years. I think he will have a very great career moving forward, so — maybe like a jersey, his first jersey or his first basketball shoe when he played his first NBA game, or the first ball that he played with and scored his very first point. You gotta go with Wemby, Steph (Curry), LeBron (James), MJ (Michael Jordan). Those are great investments.”

“Michael Jordan, hands down,” Thanasis Antetokounmpo added. “I don’t care if it’s a shoe, the hat, the card, the jersey. Michael Jordan, hands down.”

They then both agreed that Kobe Bryant should be added to the list too.

The highest public sale of a Wembanyama rookie card came in February when his one-of-a-kind 2023-24 Panini Prizm Nebula sold for $860,100 in a Goldin auction days after a blood clot in his shoulder brought his season to a premature end. One of the three jerseys Wembanyama wore in his first NBA regular season game sold for $762,000 in a Sotheby’s auction in November 2023, far exceeding the auction house’s initial estimate of $80,000 to $120,000.

In July, Wembanyama was cleared to return to the Spurs following his injury.

Antetokounmpo has a sizable collection of his own trading cards, which he has previously shown off on social media. On Saturday, he refused to divulge exactly how many of his own “logoman” cards — which include the NBA logo patch from a jersey — he owns. His most valuable card is his 2013-14 Panini National Treasures autographed rookie logoman, which sold for $1.8 million in 2020.

In addition to sharing his belief in Wembanyama’s future, Antetokounmpo also explained why his autograph has changed since his rookie season. He started by signing his full name until he realized how difficult that would become over the course of what he hoped would be a long career, so he shortened his signature to just his initials.

[German Athens]

Historically, 15 years sounds like a good run, but in Giannis’s case, he’d be leaving a lot of meat on the bone.

He just completed his 12th season. Him retiring at 33 would probably have to require a lot of things going wrong.

It’s really absurd how long he’s been playing considering his age.

[emunney]

Historically, 15 years sounds like a good run, but in Giannis’s case, he’d be leaving a lot of meat on the bone.

He just completed his 12th season. Him retiring at 33 would probably have to require a lot of things going wrong.

It’s really absurd how long he’s been playing considering his age.

TBF he's already had a long career. He likely passes Bird in career points this year (in the same # of seasons).

[Ron Swanson]

Only 9 players left standing from that draft class (Giannis, McCollum, Schroeder, Gobert, Adams, KCP, Olynyk, Plumlee, Hardaway Jr.). Time flies.

[BradMKE]

Got Giannis' autograph at the National convention Saturday. He signed and inscribed a 11" x 9" chunk of the championship court that I acquired a few months ago from Artsman (the company that made all those various collectibles from the court that the Bucks sold a few years ago).

[emunney]

Got Giannis' autograph at the National convention Saturday. He signed and inscribed a 11" x 9" chunk of the championship court that I acquired a few months ago from Artsman (the company that made all those various collectibles from the court that the Bucks sold a few years ago).

Not related or anything but where do you live exactly

[midranger]

Got Giannis' autograph at the National convention Saturday. He signed and inscribed a 11" x 9" chunk of the championship court that I acquired a few months ago from Artsman (the company that made all those various collectibles from the court that the Bucks sold a few years ago).

Not related or anything but where do you live exactly

[midranger]

I am telling you guys: Bucks over, Giannis MVP, Doc COY.

I can't find a place that will let me parlay but Doc is 100:1 on COY alone. I don't gamble but I think that's off by an order of magnitude.

I got in on Doc COY today. Limited to $13 so had to pursue two sites.

[MickeyDavis]

Doc is 80-1 at the Milwaukee casino. Giannis 10-1 MVP. Bucks 42.5

[paulpressey25]

Doc is 80-1 at the Milwaukee casino. Giannis 10-1 MVP. Bucks 42.5

Haven’t been to Poto in years. They will take sports bets? The Bucks over/under at 42.5 wins looks juicy.

[midranger]

If you want to place a surrogate bet on the Bucks having a great year, that Doc bet is the best value. The media adores him. The media thinks we’ll be crap. The media will be talking about Doc willing the Bucks to wins despite not having Dame. A good redemption story narrative. All the extraneous things that go in to those votes would be in his favor.

Bucks win 50+ and he’s 50/50 to win that award.

80-1 is wild.

[MickeyDavis]

Doc is 80-1 at the Milwaukee casino. Giannis 10-1 MVP. Bucks 42.5

Haven’t been to Poto in years. They will take sports bets? The Bucks over/under at 42.5 wins looks juicy.

Yup. They have kiosks where you can bet 24/7. Or betting windows in the sportsbook but those aren't 24/7. There's no remote betting, you have to do it there. You can't bet on Wisconsin college teams.

[midranger]

If you want to place a surrogate bet on the Bucks having a great year, that Doc bet is the best value. The media adores him. The media thinks we’ll be crap. The media will be talking about Doc willing the Bucks to wins despite not having Dame. A good redemption story narrative. All the extraneous things that go in to those votes would be in his favor.

Bucks win 50+ and he’s 50/50 to win that award.

80-1 is wild.

I’m thinking more about this.

They have us at 12-1 to win our division. That means more wins than the Cavs, so let’s just say they regress and were able to win it with only 52 wins.

To get to 80-1, you’d have to assume that assuming the above scenario plays out, Doc is still only about a 7-1 odds to win COTY.

That line just seems way off. If you’re a Bucks believer, it’s pretty juicy.

[MickeyDavis]

It's weird there are still divisions.

[ReasonablySober]

I keep forgetting that St. Croix casino in Turtle Lake is about an hour away. I'mma have to make the trip up soon.

[tonyreyes123]

Wisconsin needs fanduel or draft kings

[MickeyDavis]

Wisconsin needs fanduel or draft kings

Not happening.

[MartyConlonOnTheRun]

Going to vegas and spending an afternoon betting on games, or putting in a few future championship bets to fund your celebration dinners are fun. But having immediate access to all the prop bets is really overkill and bad for the enjoyment of the game. I hate watching football with people because they care more about their TE getting a TD than who wins a game. Or does it matter if the Bucks cover as long as they win? I think that level of gambling has a negative impact on me enjoying a game..... And that is before you get into all the lives are ruined due to addiction and the ways the apps prey on them.

[MickeyDavis]

Going to vegas and spending an afternoon betting on games, or putting in a few future championship bets to fund you celebration dinners are fun. But having immediate access to all the prop bets is really overkill and bad for the enjoyment of the game. I hate watching football with people because they care more about their TE getting a TD than who wins a game. Or does it matter if the Bucks cover as long as they win? I think that level of gambling has a negative impact on me enjoying a game..... And that is before you get into all the lives are ruined due to addiction and the ways the apps prey on them.

Couldn't agree more. I bet small amounts for fun. I want to enjoy the games and not worry about $$$. I

[jute2003]

I've worked at a casino and seen the ugly side of gambling. I've never had any desire to bet on sports. The Bucks winning more than 42.5 games is pretty tempting, though.