Giannis Antetokounmpo brushes off Jaylen Brown's 'child' comment

When told about Brown's comments, Giannis shrugged them off. He shared his love of being young, and what he does to ensure he stays young for as long as possible, crediting his kids and family. 

“This is who I am,” Giannis said. “I play the game with fun and joy. I surround myself with young people so I can stay young myself. Be around my kids a lot, my nieces...At the end of the day, if I‘m called a child, so be it. I have three children of my own and, I think, six nieces. So take care of a lot of kids around here.”

Giannis' take is refreshing. Too often, we hear from superstar NBA players who take everything seriously. It's easy to forget that sport is about enjoyment first and foremost. If fans didn't enjoy watching the game, there would be no league. And if players didn't enjoy the competitive nature, there would be no superstars. Giannis embraces that side of basketball, and it provides a refreshing tone. 

Whether Giannis is so jovial behind the scenes is a different question. The two-time MVP has made no secret of his desire to continue contending for championships. He was at the forefront of Milwaukee's decision to trade for Damian Lillard. It's unlikely the team's current malaise is sitting well with him. 

If Milwaukee continues its current slide, it will be interesting to see how long Giannis can continue playing with "joy" before the dark clouds begin to roll in. For now, though, he is a good reminder of what sports is about at its core, and for that, he should be appreciated.