"Let’s see what this guy did in his career, anyway" - Giannis Antetokounmpo didn't know who Jason Kidd was

Believe it or not, Giannis had no idea about Jason Kidd's once-lofty stature in the NBA.

Matthew Dugandzic | Feb 5, 2023

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Milwaukee Bucks

Giannis Antetokounmpo may be the most low-key superstar in the NBA right now. He's got a wonderful personality and mostly keeps to himself whenever he's not dominating his opponents. However, underneath that cozy exterior lies a proud competitor who has everyone's respect on the basketball court.

And so, when Antetokounmpo was sent to the bench by then-head coach Jason Kidd, the Greek Freak was beside himself. However, that was until he found out who exactly Kidd was.

He immediately knew better

NBA stars have a lot of pride. They may not show it all the time, but it's there. Giannis was definitely taken aback by Kidd's decision, but the moment he realized who his coach was, he knew better than to say anything more.

“I was like, ‘Let’s see what this guy did in his career, anyway,’ ” Antetokounmpo said as he proceeded to search on the Internet for Kidd's credentials. What he eventually saw blew him away.

“I saw Rookie of the Year, NBA championship, USA Olympic gold medal, second in assists, fifth in made threes, blah, blah, blah. I was like, ‘Jesus freaking Christ, how can I compete with that? I better zip it,’” said Antetokounmpo.

Kidd helped unlock Giannis' potential

With the Bucks struggling in Giannis' rookie season, Kidd tried out an experiment that would change the course of Antetokounmpo's career forever. He had Giannis play the point guard and tasked him with making crucial playmaking decisions on the floor.

"We didn’t talk about it,” Kidd said. “We didn’t make a big deal out of it. There was no pressure. We just wanted to try something different.”

That move unlocked the potential of one of the most talented players in NBA history. Giannis is now a two-time MVP and an NBA champion, and his success can be attributed to Kidd's ingenuity.

It took some time for Antetokounmpo to fully embrace Kidd's coaching chops, as he was initially taken aback by then-head-coach's unusual decision to bench him. But once Giannis finally put his trust in Kidd, there was no turning back.

Published Feb 5, 2023

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.