Damian Lillard has grown tired of the incessant Thanasis Antetokounmpo memes circulating online. In a recent interview with Complex Sports, the Milwaukee Bucks star spoke out in defense of his teammate, Thanasis Antetokounmpo, who often faces ridicule from online trolls for his performance on the court.
Lillard expressed his frustration, stating, ““I just see a lot of stuff on social media about TA,” said Lillard. “It’s a lot of guys that might feel like they were more talented, have more ability, but they could never take his spot. You know, people try to be funny.”
He further emphasized Thanasis’s abilities, challenging detractors by saying, “I would put good money that a lot of people talking on Twitter wouldn’t be able to beat him in a game of one-on-one,” Lillard added about Thanasis. “Defensively, he’s big, he’s strong, he’s athletic, he’s physical. You’re not gonna find a guy that’s more about the team, that show up, that work hard … I respect him a lot. I think that if people got to know him, they wouldn’t be joking as much.”
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While Lillard staunchly supports his teammate, the core argument seems to elude him. The contention isn’t that Thanasis is inferior to any random Reddit user; rather, it’s the suggestion that Thanasis’s presence in the league might be due to his brother, Giannis Antetokounmpo, a two-time NBA MVP and the Bucks’ franchise star.
This argument holds weight, considering Thanasis’s modest career statistics—averaging 2.5 points per game with shooting splits of 51/14/54 percent over six NBA seasons, coupled with a penchant for altercations per 36 minutes.
At 31, Thanasis continues to epitomize professionalism and camaraderie, qualities affirmed by Lillard. However, in terms of his skill level, the NBA G League or an overseas team may be better suited. Even Charles Barkley, whose recent blunt critique of Thanasis garnered attention, likely concurs with this assessment.
