‘That just says a lot about him, his work ethic and his determination’ – Hakeem Olajuwon HAILS Giannis as Next NBA Great

The achievements of Giannis Antetokounmpo are unimaginable for other athletes. One of the NBA’s all-time greats feels that the Greek Freak is special because, despite his many accomplishments, he never stops looking for ways to improve.


Hakeem Olajuwon had nothing but admiration for the two-time MVP after working out with him in Houston.
Giannis continues to improve.

Olajuwon found Antetokounmpo’s unwavering commitment to perfecting his craft to be “amazing.”

It’s amazing to watch a guy like Giannis push himself to become better every day and raise his level of play. Olajuwon said, “That just says a lot about him, his work ethic, and his determination to be the very best he can be,” according to Mark Berman.

Olajuwon, who played in the NBA for 19 seasons, was chosen for 12 All-Star teams, won two championships, and received one MVP award, cherished his time with Giannis.


Due to the similarity of our backgrounds—his parents are from Nigeria—working with him was an honor and a lot of fun. We discussed a wide range of subjects, both involving and omitting basketball. It was quite beautiful, Hakeem said.

Determined to bounce back


Giannis wants to do all in his ability to help the Milwaukee Bucks win this season following a disappointing year, so he spent time working out with Hakeem.

The Bucks faced a lot of criticism after their shocking first-round exit the previous campaign. Milwaukee secured the top playoff spot by finishing the regular season strong. However, the Bucks struggled in the postseason and were unable to go past the first round after falling to the eighth-seeded Miami Heat in just five games.