Bucks Zone

“I love his game” - Giannis Antetokounmpo reveals his plan to work out with NBA legend Hakeem Olajuwon

The Greek Freak is going to expand his bag of moves.

Matthew Dugandzic

© RVR Photos-USA TODAY Sports
In this story:

Giannis Antetokounmpo is one of the few players who could put up big numbers on a regular basis, and with his plan to learn from one of the best, expect the Greek Freak to become more unstoppable in the coming NBA season.

Making an appearance in the 48 Minutes podcast on Wednesday, Giannis said his training camp will include a trip to Houston to train with Hall of Famer Hakeem Olajuwon.

“This season for the training camp, I have a trip that I’m going to go down to Houston and try to work out with Hakeem Olajuwon,” Antetokounmpo said. “I love his game, and if I can kind of take a few things from his game or learn anything from the few days I’m going to spend with him, it’s going to be a blessing.”

A deadlier Giannis

As if Antetokounmpo is not fearsome enough, sharpening his arsenal with the help of Olajuwon, known for his post moves and footwork, will certainly make the Milwaukee Bucks main more dreadful.

The late Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, Dwight Howard, LeBron James, and Steve Nash are some of the elite players to have worked out with Hakeem. Alperen Sengun of the Houston Rockets has also vastly improved after spending some time working out with Olajuwon.

It will not be the first that Giannis will be working out with an NBA legend, as he also trained with Bryant on his way to winning two MVP awards.

Interestingly, Antetokounmpo and Olajuwon are two of three players in NBA history to win the MVP award and Defensive Player of the Year award in the same season. Michael Jordan is the only other player to achieve the feat.

Gearing up for next season

With the 2023-24 NBA season just around the corner, Giannis has started making the needed preparations.

“Back at it again with my guys,” Giannis wrote in a social media post showing him in a gym together with his Bucks teammates.

Entering his 11th NBA season, Giannis is expected to be in tip-top shape after undergoing a knee procedure in July. Antetokounmpo also took a much-needed rest after the knee procedure by deciding not to suit up for Greece in the recent FIBA World Cup.

Published
Matthew Dugandzic
MATTHEW DUGANDZIC

Matthew finished his bachelor's degree in Economics (Management) at the University of Split and got his master's degree in the same field at the University of Zadar. Whether it is playing the game as an undersized 6'3'' power forward or simply watching it, Matthew can't get enough of it. After all, he has been an avid NBA fan since the 2000s. But don't get him wrong, as Matthew still loves the old-school NBA and is a true student of the game. From on-court moments to off-court stuff, whether it's about the stars of modern-day basketball or legends of the game, Matthew covers every category of the NBA world and basketball in general, as long as it makes for an engaging and exciting story.