Giannis Antetokounmpo added another milestone to his storied career Wednesday night, leading the Milwaukee Bucks to a dominant 137-107 win over the Dallas Mavericks. The Bucks star reached 20,000 career points in the third quarter.
Antetokounmpo is the 52nd player in NBA history to hit the mark—56th if ABA stats are included. The most recent to do so before him? His teammate Damian Lillard, who achieved the feat last season.
The Bucks honored Antetokounmpo with a tribute video, celebrating his journey from a 19-year-old rookie in 2013 to the franchise’s all-time leader in games, minutes, field goals, rebounds, assists, blocks, triple-doubles, field-goal percentage, and, now, points.
The in-arena video tribute for Giannis Antetokounmpo’s 20,000 points. pic.twitter.com/2vC10dY0ph
— Eric Nehm (@eric_nehm) March 6, 2025
Antetokounmpo’s achievement came just a day after LeBron James became the first player to surpass 50,000 career points (including playoffs). Strictly by regular-season numbers, James holds the record at 41,187 – a staggering total. By comparison, Antetokounmpo, now in his 12th season, isn’t even halfway there. But few players measure up to James’ longevity.
Still, the two-time MVP, former Defensive Player of the Year, and eight-time All-Star is on a Hall of Fame trajectory. At 30, he joins an elite list of players—LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Kobe Bryant, Wilt Chamberlain, and Michael Jordan—who reached 20,000 points at a younger age.
Antetokounmpo has loftier goals ahead. “I’m going to get there,” he said, per Athlon Sports, signaling his sights on the 30,000-point milestone.
Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo credits relentless work ethic for 20k points milestone
Since being drafted 15th overall in 2013 as a raw 18-year-old from Greece, Giannis Antetokounmpo has reshaped his body and transformed his game into one of the NBA’s most dominant forces.
“I realized what separates me from the other players… is my heart, my spirit, my work ethic…”
— Dylan Hunter Carter (@DylanHCarter) March 6, 2025
Just after hitting 20K points, Giannis Antetokounmpo shares what it’s taken to overcome obstacles and stay true to himself (via @620WTMJ). #FearTheDeer pic.twitter.com/vdMvtf1acm
“I hope a lot of people see me and I represent the people who might not have it all, might not be the most talented people, but they are disciplined and they show up every night to do the right thing,” Antetokounmpo said, per The Associated Press.
“No matter the outcome, they keep coming back and keep on being disciplined in their craft. I hope I can represent all those people.”
Bucks coach Doc Rivers marvels at his star’s consistency, saying:
“It’s like Groundhog Day,” Rivers said. “He does it every day, same thing. I think at times we do take it for granted. And we really shouldn’t.”
Fittingly, Antetokounmpo reached this milestone against Dallas, where he faced former Bucks coach Jason Kidd, the man who guided him at the start of his NBA journey.
READ: Donovan Mitchell and Co. Clinch Playoff Spot, Edge Heat in Thriller
I am a writer passionate about telling the stories behind the game of basketball. From the culture and personalities shaping the sport to the moments that define it, I explore basketball beyond the box score.
