LeBron James hasn’t yet announced when he’s going to retire, but Giannis Antetokounmpo didn’t want to take a chance.
So, after the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday, 105-101, Antetokounmpo approached the longtime face of the league with a request.
He asked for James’ jersey.
“You never know, it might be our last game against one another,” Antetokounmpo said.
Antetokounmpo and James hadn’t squared off in a regular-season game since 2022. And considering James has hinted he’s most likely going to retire either after this season or the following one, Antetokounmpo wanted to make sure he didn’t miss the opportunity to commemorate his childhood idol.
It’s interesting because both players and fans alike are in a state of suspension over when James is going to call it quits. It’s hard to imagine James, who’s the first NBA player to play 23 seasons, wouldn’t want a farewell tour, allowing for everyone to say goodbye to one of the greatest players of all time.
But James’ camp has claimed he hasn’t yet decided whether this season will be his last, so there’s a chance a farewell tour won’t happen.
The league’s biggest superstars have handled their exits differently.
Kobe Bryant announced in a poem in The Players’ Tribune in November of 2015 that he was going to retire at the end of that season. The following months, Bryant received standing ovations in opposing arenas and exchanged heartfelt words with players after games, regularly giving away his signed jersey or shoes.
Meanwhile, Tim Duncan never uttered a word that he planned to retire after the 2015-2016 season and simply walked off the court of his final game with a wave. Players and fans later found out he wasn’t returning.
This much is for sure: James has made it clear he doesn’t have much time left.
So, after spending 48 minutes as fierce competitors, Antetokounmpo transformed into a fan. When asked how it felt to finally share the court with James after so long, he proudly showed reporters James’ signed jersey.
“I think he’s a blueprint for every athlete, not just basketball athlete,” Antetokounmpo said. “Being able to be consistent for 23 years. Available. Be a winner, lead by example. It’s incredible. And any opportunity I have to be around greatness and compete against greatness, I will always take it. I never take it for granted.”
On the court, however, Antetokounmpo showed much less reverence for James.
James, who exploded for 13 points in the fourth quarter to erase the Bucks’ nine-point lead at the top of the period, looked as though he was going to lead his team to their 14th straight win in clutch games (when teams are separated by five points or less at any point in the final five minutes). With 6 minutes left, James stole the ball from Antetokounmpo and made a layup to give the Lakers their first lead (92-90) since the top of the second quarter.
But down the stretch, Antetokounmpo played the foil, finishing with a pair of highlight-reel defensive plays against James to give the Bucks one of their most impressive wins of the season.
With 39.2 seconds left and the score knotted at 101-101, Antetokounmpo blocked James from behind as he attempted a layup. Then, Antetokounmpo stole the ball from James with 1.5 seconds left and the Lakers trailing by two points, 103-101.
“I missed going against him,” Antetokounmpo said. “I think it brings the best out of me as a player.”
James led the Lakers (23-13) with 26 points, 10 assists, nine rebounds and three steals. Antetokounmpo had 21 points, six rebounds, five assists and two blocked shots for the Bucks (17-21), who have won five of their last seven games since Antetokounmpo returned from a strained right calf strain Dec. 27 that had sidelined him for eight games,
James said playing against any of the league’s top stars is something he doesn’t take for granted.
“At this point in my career, it’s always great to go against some of the greats,” James said. “If it’s Giannis, if it’s Steph, KD, James, Russ. Guys that I’ve been either going against for a long time or played with.”
As for Antetokounmpo, he said that while he has always looked up to James, his awe has only deepened over the years.
“I have the utmost respect for him and what he’s accomplished in his 23-year career,” Antetokounmpo said. “Because this is year 13 for me and I kinda understand now how hard it is to be consistent and available. It’s not easy, right? It’s definitely not easy. I can see how hard my journey has been. And I can imagine how hard his journey has been. It’s always going to be respect.”
