Former No. 2 overall pick appears to call out Giannis Antetokounmpo

Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Former No. 2 overall pick appears to call out Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo

By Vinny Somma | Last updated 9/13/23

Former No. 2 overall pick and ex-Boston Celtics assistant coach Evan Turner appeared to shade Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo and his brother, Thanasis, on Wednesday.

"Ain’t nobody coming to Milwaukee to work out wit you and your brother," Turner wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Turner appears to be responding to comments Antetokounmpo made on Wednesday while joining the "48 Minutes" podcast. During his appearance, the two-time league MVP discussed his reasoning for refusing to work out with other active NBA players.

"I don't know how to be phony. I don't know how to be fake," Antetokounmpo said. "That's why I kind of keep my distance because I know that if I work out with people, it takes active players, it takes off my edge when I play against them."

While Antetokounmpo has sworn off training with his active NBA counterparts, he did reveal during the podcast that he plans to work out with Hall of Famer Hakeem Olajuwon ahead of the 2023-24 season.

Giannis says that he plans to train with Hakeem Olajuwon!

(via @48MinsPod) @Giannis_An34 pic.twitter.com/Zd6P4aNXn8
— Hoops Nation (@HoopsNation_1) September 13, 2023

Antetokounmpo, 28, is coming off a 2022-23 campaign in which he averaged a career-best 31.1 ppg. However, his prolific play wasn't enough to lead the Bucks on a deep playoff run. After finishing as the No. 1 seed in the East during the regular season, Milwaukee was booted from title contention in the first round of the playoffs by the eventual Eastern Conference champion Miami Heat.

Milwaukee has won just one playoff series since their NBA Finals victory in 2020-21. Their lack of recent postseason success has cast legitimate doubt on Antetokounmpo's future in a Bucks uniform. With two years remaining on his contract and a player option in 2025-26, Antetokounmpo has continuously reiterated his desire to chase another NBA title – regardless if that happens with the Bucks or another franchise.

"I'm a Milwaukee Buck, but most importantly I'm a winner. ... If there is a better situation for me to win the Larry O'Brien I have to take that better situation."

- Giannis

pic.twitter.com/0hA5KBpeWH
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) September 13, 2023