The Greek Freak has finally responded to LeBron James’ controversial statement on ‘The Pat McAfee’ Show that Giannis Antetokounmpo would score 250 points in a game if he played in the 1970s. His thoughtful, humorous, and balanced viewpoint demonstrates his respect for the game’s past.
Though a little excessive, the two-time MVP saw the outrageous statement as praise. He was unwilling to ignore the larger context of LeBron’s widely shared remark in favor of simply grinning and moving on. He took advantage of the occasion to discuss the subtleties of comparing NBA players from various decades.
Giannis respond, “I don’t know about that take, I think it’s a wrong take. I don’t know, I think if I played in the 70s, I would probably be more of like 275, not 250. I’m joking. Great compliment, but I don’t like, you know, how you say, comparing eras. It’s not fair. And, you know, if I played in the 70s, how everybody practiced and how everybody played, I would have played the same way. You know, that’s all you knew at the time. And you know, the game evolves. And we’ve got to 2020 and we know more.”
"It's a wrong take… It would probably be more like 275, not 250. I'm joking. Great compliment. But I don't like comparing eras. It's not fair… The game evolves."
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) March 29, 2025
Giannis Antetokounmpo on LeBron James' comment on him scoring 250 points in the '70s.pic.twitter.com/vjX0ldFhFE
He added, “You know, people will shoot the ball from half court, Towns trailing every time, and he’s able to catch the ball and shoot it. He’s a threat. Like, it’s totally different, right? So you cannot compare this era with that era. You know, I wish that this era that I play in right now, 2025, I wish I could score 250 points today. But yeah, I don’t think it’s fair to compare, because I would probably play the same way that they did if I played in the 70s.”
When discussions about excellence and domination across eras come up, many contemporary players share Giannis’ argument. The NBA in the 1970s was very different from what it is today. Giannis acknowledges that he would have trained and performed similarly to his contemporaries if he had played in the 1970s.
LeBron’s remark was obviously meant to be humorous and to emphasize Giannis’ ridiculous physical dominance. Giannis, meanwhile, acted honorably—thankful, kind, and truthful.
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LeBron James Made A Fiery Yet Cheeky Take On Giannis Antetokounmpo Scoring 250 Points In 70’s NBA
LeBron James believes that if Giannis had played in the 1970s, he would have caused more damage. James made the outrageous assertion that Antetokounmpo would score 250 points in a game over that period while appearing on The Pat McAfee Show.
“You trying to tell me Giannis wouldn’t be able to play an NBA game in the 70s? … Giannis Antetokounmpo would have 250 points in a game in the 70s,” James said. “250.”
“You trying to tell me Giannis wouldn't be able to play an NBA game in the 70’s? Giannis would have 250 points in a game in the 70’s.”
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) March 26, 2025
— LeBron James
(via @PatMcAfeeShow, h/t @ohnohedidnt24)pic.twitter.com/isFjolkeJz
Although the Bucks forward is undoubtedly the best of all time, several former players have argued that he wouldn’t have been as brilliant if he had played 30 or 40 years earlier. Mychal Thompson, Rasheed Wallace, and Dennis Rodman have all expressed their disbelief that James would have achieved the same level of success in the 1980s and 1990s.
Giannis Antetokounmpo hoped to capture his second NBA championship after leading the Milwaukee Bucks to a strong 40-33 record this season. With Damian Lillard out indefinitely following a diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis, those have now been shattered. Only time will tell if they will make it to the playoffs.
