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sports Dialuna 18 OctOber 2021

Giannis vows to get better, no telling how good he can be

(AP) - Giannis Antetok- one.
ounmpo sometimes looks Yet, Antetokounmpo is the
like he might dunk from same player who was mocked “So, I think for guys like Gi-
the foul line. on social media during the annis, he’s the same way” and
postseason for shooting air- wants more, said Jefferson,
Other times, the Milwaukee balls on free throws, who had now an analyst for ESPN and
Bucks forward struggles just fans on the road counting to YES Network.
to reach the rim with a shot 10 or beyond to show that
from it. sometimes he wouldn’t even “He knows that people still
attempt the shot within the say that Kevin Durant’s the
Even with holes to fill in his allowed time. best player, or LeBron James
game, Antetokounmpo is al- is the best player in the world.
ready among the best players It was such a glaring weak- And he’s won two MVPs, a
in the NBA. He is a two- ness that it reignited criticism finals MVP, an All-Star MVP,
time MVP who could prob- that he is an elite athlete who and no one is saying he’s the
ably start drafting his Hall of isn’t all that skilled at basket- best player in the world ...
Fame speech without ever ball. That should make any great climb from his shaky NBA
adding to what he does now. player want to wake up and Unlike an Anthony Davis or start to three straight sea-
He’s not as bad as he looked continue pushing.” Zion Williamson, who ar- sons averaging better than 25
Listen to the him for just a then. rived in the NBA as No. 1 points, 10 rebounds and 5.0
few minutes and it’s clear Antetokounmpo did rest a picks with can’t-miss expec- assists. He’s still below a 30%
that’s not his plan. He’s also as good as he could hyperextended left knee that tations after a year at a col- 3-point shooter for his career
be. forced him to miss two games lege basketball powerhouse, but looked quicker and more
“I want to keep getting bet- in the Eastern Conference fi- Antetokounmpo was no sure confident on his release in
ter,” Antetokounmpo states “We continue to say we feel nals and took a trip back to thing. He was only the No. the preseason.
matter-of-factly. like Giannis has got a lot his home in Greece with his 15 pick of the 2013 draft,
of room for improvement, championship hardware. He averaging just 6.8 points as a A reliable outside shot
That is coming from a player which is a lot of respect for enjoyed the extra time with rookie on a team that went would make the 6-foot-11,
who had one of the finest how much he already does his fans and his family, hav- 15-67. Neither he nor the 250-pound Antetokounmpo
NBA Finals ever, the unani- and how great a player and ing become a father for the Bucks were going anywhere close to unguardable, giv-
mous MVP after averaging how impactful he is to win- second time. without plenty of work. en his unique combination
35.2 points, 13.2 rebounds ning,” said Bucks coach Mike of speed and strength that
and 5.0 assists while shooting Budenholzer. “But you’ve got to be able to That comes easily for An- makes him too big for most
61.8%. No player had ever do it for yourself, figure out tetokounmpo. It’s a trait he forwards and too agile to be
reached those numbers. But the coach believes there what you want. And right learned from his parents, guarded by centers.
are “some significant jumps now, what I want is to get bet- who moved from Nigeria to
Maybe because it’s just pos- that he can take.” ter,” Antetokounmpo said. “I Greece and he said worked Many teams try to stop him
sible there has never been a don’t care about trophies. nonstop while raising he and by packing a wall of defend-
player like him. If there was ever a time to his brothers with little mon- ers in his path to the rim, but
ease up, it would seem An- “I don’t care about MVPs. I ey. Antetokounmpo could foil
Antetokounmpo finished off tetokounmpo just earned it don’t care about defensive that strategy by simply shoot-
Phoenix with 50 points, 14 after carrying Milwaukee to player of the year. I don’t care “No matter how they felt ing before he got to it.
rebounds and five blocked its first title in 50 years. But about all those things. I care — happy, sad, tired — they
shots in Game 6, going 17 for Richard Jefferson, who won about getting better, because didn’t stop,” Antetokounmpo Then, no wall would be in
19 from the line. Few play- a title with LeBron James in I know if I do that, there’s said. “That’s kind of the his way.
ers have ever displayed such Cleveland, said that’s exactly more things coming with mindset I have and that I’m
a mastery of their craft in when the great players take that and that’s what I’ve done going to keep having.” “I’m ready for any obstacles,”
seemingly every facet of the it up another notch because my whole career and that’s Antetokounmpo said.
game. they don’t want to settle for why I’m in this position.” It’s one that’s helped him

Hope, conflicted morality as Newcastle fans welcome Saudis

(AP) — Wearing a mock Arab old Newcastle fan said. “We ownership. Saudi crown prince impli- watching in bemusement.
headdress, Chris Greenslade, can afford anything.” cated in the gruesome plot:
between swigs from a bottle But Newcastle fans have to Mohammed bin Salman. “It’s fake news,” he said. “Be-
of Newcastle Brown Ale, was It was a day of celebration — reluctantly in many cases lieve me.”
proudly embracing his club’s even before kickoff against — accept their long-under- “Is there any evidence?”
new status as one of the rich- Tottenham on Sunday at St. achieving club becoming Greenslade said. “Is it nailed When the fate of Khashoggi,
est in world sports. James’ Park as the Premier embroiled in a sporting mor- on?” his body and the findings of
League opened a new era al maze of the ethics of own- investigators was raised, Al-
“We’re Saudis,” the 41-year- — with a team under Saudi ership by a state. Embracing U.S. intelligence services said Shammari was uneasy.
the riches of the Saudi sover- they believe the killing of the
eign wealth fund to remove a U.S.-based Saudi journal- “I know the story. It’s not
long-despised owner means ist came at the orders of the like you think,” he said. “It’s
an unwelcome attachment crown prince who heads the a different story. It’s hard to
with the murkier side of a Public Investment Fund now explain.”
kingdom. owning 80% of Newcastle.
Planes owned by a PIF com- This corner of northeast Eng-
“You’re going to get stuff like pany are said to have been land is the latest extension of
that along there,” Greenslade used by the Saudi assassina- the Saudi state’s efforts to
says, pointing out a vehicle tion squad. Prince Moham- enhance its image through
emblazoned with the name med denies wrongdoing. sports investments.
“Jamal Khashoggi” alongside
an image of the journalist As the van circled St. James’ “Just visit Saudi Arabia, ask
murdered in the Saudi con- Park again, Adel Al-Sham- the people there,” Al-Sham-
sulate in Istanbul in 2018. mari, a Saudi studying at mari said. “You will find the
There was also a photo of the university in Newcastle, was truth.”