Giannis Antetokounmpo does not care about being the face of the NBA, passes it to Kevin Durant, James Harden

Giannis Antetokounmpo has four different MVPs and a championship trophy with the Milwaukee Bucks. He does not care about being the face of the league he plays in.

Speaking to media in Athens on Sunday, the “Greek Freak” said his goal isn’t to hold the league’s billboard crown.

“I don’t care about being the face of the NBA. [Kevin Durant] or [James Harden] can be,” Antetokounmpo said, according to a translation of his press conference, back in Greece after propelling his Bucks to an electric Game 6 win in the Finals.

“I want to be with my kids and my family, I want to win and enjoy the game,” he continued. “I want to be Giannis the hard worker.”

Antetokounmpo and his brother and teammate Thanasis went back home parading the Larry O’Brien Trophy with them as well. Their plan was to bring it on a tour with them to the Greek neighborhoods, Sepolia and Zografou, where they grew up, to show kids in the areas what the NBA Championship trophy looks like up close and personal.

It’s a short trip Antetokounmpo said they were making solely for the benefit of the youth, not the media. He’ll return back to the U.S. in time for the birth of his and girlfriend, Mariah Riddlesprigger’s, second child.

Whether or not Giannis becomes the decisive new face of the NBA, he’s already proved his worth and cemented his legacy in basketball history.

Antetokounmpo finished this last season averaging the fifth-most points per game (28.1) and eighth-most rebounds per game (11.0). He was also named to his fifth-consecutive All-Star Game and collected All-Defensive and All-NBA honors. That was all on top of being named All-Star Game MVP and the Finals MVP.

By comparison, Durant and Harden’s seasons were marred by injuries and COVID-19. The Nets’ run to a championship was cut short via a Game 7 OT loss to Antetokounmpo and the Bucks in the conference semifinals.

Antetokounmpo knows he has nothing more to prove. The road ahead for him is continuing to show out day in an day out.

“I love the playoffs and the pressure. I enjoy pressure, I didn’t care about the result,” Antetokounmpo said. “And now what’s next? Now I know what it takes, now I want to do it again. It’s like challenging myself. I want to please my people even though I have nothing to prove.”