Late bloomer Giannis Antetokounmpo coming for the throne

When told that the aforementioned five legends all went on to join the 30K club, Antetokounmpo vowed to follow suit.

"I'm going to get there — 1000 percent," he declared. "I don't know how I'm gonna do it, but I'm gonna show up every single day, and I'm gonna do it."

It's astounding that, despite being a late bloomer, Antetokounmpo finds himself in rarefied air with the greatest scorers in NBA history. His success story is a reminder that it's hard to predict a player's career path within their first few years in the pros. It's also a testament to the amount of work Antetokounmpo put into his craft, which includes developing a midrange shot and improving as a playmaker. 

For Antetokounmpo, the 20K milestone is a time for reflection but also motivates him to shoot higher. He still remembers analysts doubting if his scrawny 19-year-old frame would survive the physical rigors of the NBA. 

"When I came into the NBA, I looked around me and said, 'The only way I can make it in this league is by working hard,'" he recalled. "And I have to show up every single day. I had conversations with players and they told me, 'The greats never get bored.' And as I worked, worked, worked, I got to a point where I realized what separates me from other players is my heart, spirit, work ethic and my discipline to repeat it."

Antetokounmpo's work ethic should inspire other unheralded teenagers to push the limits and defy expectations. That's exactly what "The Greek Freak" did, and continues to do.