In the aftermath of Giannis Antetokounmpo's amazing performance in Game 5, ESPN's Kendrick Perkins was quick to shower him with praise. Speaking on NBA Today, the former Celtics big man lauded Giannis' dominance and suggested that he's headed towards being a Mount Rushmore type of player if he continues on his current path:
"We gotta start appreciating the greatness of Giannis Antetokounmpo. That was a LeBron James type of performance in the playoffs in the Garden. To walk into that hostile environment without one of your key guys in Khris Middleton and go in there and give them a 40-piece wing dinner, all-flats lemon pepper style and to do it in great fashion... and to take that three-point shot. We talk about everything Giannis can't do, we talked about him when he couldn't shoot free throws and was afraid to get to the line, he did that. And look at that moment, Giannis is not taking that shot last year. He has the confidence and when I talk about him on the verge of where he's going as far as being an all-time great and being the second greatest power forward behind Tim Duncan if he keeps this up, but we're going to have to talk about Giannis Antetokounmpo being on Mount Rushmore."
As a 6x All-Star, 5x All-NBA player, 2x MVP, and NBA Champion, Giannis Antetokounmpo is already one of the NBA's 50 greatest players and he isn't even 28. By the time it's all said and done, there is no doubt that he has the potential to finish within the top 15 or even the top 10.
To even consider putting him on the Mount Rushmore of greats, up there with Jordan, LeBron, and Magic, would be saying a lot about his career and all the skills he brings to the table. It's premature, for now, but Giannis could get there soon if he continues his dominant run over the East. With Game 6 set for Friday, we'll find out quickly if Giannis has what it takes to deliver another big performance in a close-out victory.
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