What led to the Bucks decision to waive Damian Lillard?
Bucks reporter Jim Owczarski discusses what led to the Bucks decision to waive Damian Lillard, enabling them to sign Myles Turner.
Everybody has an opinion. And if you so choose, your thoughts on whatever subject you choose can be seen and heard rather boldly if you posses a laptop and/or smartphone.
Therefore, these G.O.A.T. sports rankings aren’t exactly exclusive content these days (that’s greatest of all time, if you are scoring at home and somehow not familiar with the lingo). But a blitz of editorial comments and verbal wars on social media usually are usually soon to follow.
And Milwaukee Bucks global superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo has his name on yet another one of these who-the-best-are listicles.
Bleacher Report has released its top 100 NBA players of all-time list and Giannis checks in at No. 24.
With career averages of 23.9 points per game, 9.9 rebounds per game and 5 assists per game over 12 seasons. Antetokounmpo is listed as the Bleacher Report’s 24th best player in NBA history.
Bleacher Report called Giannis “the most physically overpowering force in the league since Shaquille O’Neal” and added that he had a “surefire Hall of Fame resumé having just completed his age-30 season.”
“A downhill weapon whose off-the-dribble attacks forced defenses to build walls and abandon surrounding shooters, Giannis’ transition attacks and interior finishing produced back-to-back MVPs, a championship and an offensive track record no one has ever matched. We’ve seen six seasons in NBA history in which a player averaged at least 30.0 points, 9.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists while making at least 50.0 percent of his shots. Antetokounmpo has three of them — including 2023-24 and 2024-25, in which he made over 60.0 percent of his field-goal attempts. He’s the only player to do that even once.”
Some NBA fans apparently think Giannis should be ranked higher, especially over former Dirk Nowitzki (18) and Kevin Garnett (16).
KG, Jokic, and Dirk Nowitzki above Giannis is so incredibly nasty. Giannis has 5 All Defensive teams to Jokic’s zero, and a DPOY to his zero. Giannis has 3 more ALL NBA First Team selections than Dirk AND KG and one more mvp than both of them, andddd a finals mvp over KG. https://t.co/eoOTiINIWq pic.twitter.com/gOgF8TUTUp
— Follow HeavenlyBuckets (@Heavenlybuckets) July 14, 2025
KG and Dirk over Giannis lol
— Nathan Marzion (@nathanmarzion) July 14, 2025
It appears that Antetokounmpo is being at least slightly penalized for only winning one championship. The list takes into account “each player’s NBA career, cumulative and average stats, awards, playoffs, championships, cultural impact and overall greatness.” Former Marquette star Dwyane Wade is ranked one spot ahead of Giannis at 23.
24. Wade
25. Giannis
I’m curious the argument Wade has over Giannis.
Obviously he won more titles, but Giannis didn’t get to play with prime LeBron.
Giannis has more all NBAs (9>8), more first team All-NBAs (7>2), more all Defense (5>3), and crucially more MVPs (2>0) https://t.co/ZtXmhfAxTq
— junes (174-0 in internet arguments) (@junesfoshiz) July 14, 2025Abdul-Jabbar, Robertson, Malone ranked high
Former Bucks Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (3) and Oscar Robertson (14) are also ranked among the NBA’s top 15 all-time players. Moses Malone, who played in two seasons for the Bucks late in his career is also among the top 25 at No. 21.
Fan favorite Allen among other former Bucks from 50-100
Sharpshooter Ray Allen, who played for the Bucks from 1996-2002 and at one time was the league’s record holder in 3-pointers made, is ranked 51st on the list (ahead of Reggie Miller at No. 54). Allen was involved in one of the most controversial and disappointing trades in Milwaukee sports history when he was sent to the Seattle Supersonics for Gary Payton. Payton played only three months with the Milwaukee and is ranked No 53.
Recently released free agent Damien Lillard is at No. 63 after playing two seasons in Milwaukee.
Center Bob Lanier is No. 82. Lanier was traded to the Bucks in 1980 and finished his career in 1984 with the franchise that won 522 games in that decade.