Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo says Stephen Curry is NBA's best player after leading Golden State Warriors to title

MILWAUKEE — For Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo, the debate about the best player in the NBA is simple.

He doesn't consider himself the current best player in the league because his team fell short of winning the championship last season. So, he was ready to cede that accolade to Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry instead.

«I think the best player in the world is the person that is the last man standing,» Antetokounmpo said Sunday afternoon at Bucks media day. «It's the person that takes his team to the Finals, the finish line and helps them win the game.… that's how I view it. I believe the best player in the world is Steph Curry.»

Antetokounmpo, who was named the No.1 player on ESPN's NBArank, acknowledged that he is one of the best players in the league and could have made the claim for the top spot after the Bucks won the 2021 NBA Finals. But after Milwaukee lost in the second round of the playoffs last season in a seven-game series against the Boston Celtics, he fell short of the claim.

Antetokounmpo also finished third in the voting for NBA MVP after averaging 29.9 points, 11.6 rebounds and 5.8 assists last season, but he pointed out how individual awards failed in comparison to the thrill of winning the NBA Finals.

«The feeling I felt, it was a nice feeling,» he said. «I got jealous of Golden State, seeing them in the parade and the ESPYs. You know that feeling now. You know what is getting stripped away from you.»

With Antetokounmpo at the center, the Bucks believe they have a team capable of winning the NBA championship again. They brought back nearly their entire roster from last season. Sixteen of the 20 players in training camp were on the roster at some point last season, including forward Jordan