The Milwaukee Bucks cruised to a dominant 137-107 victory over the injury-depleted Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night, led by the star duo of Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo. While the win was impressive, the night belonged to Antetokounmpo, who reached a significant career milestone—and made it clear he’s aiming for much more.
Antetokounmpo entered the game needing just 22 points to surpass 20,000 career points. By the final buzzer, he had not only hit the mark but finished with 32 points, 15 rebounds, and four assists, bringing his career total to 20,010.
The two-time MVP isn’t satisfied yet. Antetokounmpo confidently stated that he believes he will add at least 10,000 more points to his career total, joining the exclusive 30,000-point club—a feat achieved by only nine players in NBA history.
“I’m going to get there. For sure, 100 percent. I’m going to get there. I don’t know how I’ll do it, but I’m going to show up every single day and I’m going to do it,” Antetokounmpo said in his postgame press conference, via the NBA’s official X (formerly Twitter) account.
Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks in action against the Brooklyn Nets
How close is Antetokounmpo to 30,000 points?
Throughout his career, Antetokounmpo has averaged roughly 24 points per game. However, his scoring took a major leap starting in the 2016-17 season when he became an All-Star and averaged over 20 points per game. In each of the past three seasons, he has averaged over 30 points, putting him on track to reach the 30,000 mark if he maintains his scoring output for several more years.
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The 30,000-point club
If Antetokounmpo reaches the milestone, he’ll join an elite group of NBA legends. Here’s a look at the nine players who have already surpassed 30,000 career points:
- LeBron James – The NBA’s all-time leading scorer with 41,871 regular-season points (and counting), plus 8,162 in the playoffs.
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar – 38,387 points.
- Karl Malone – 36,928 points.
- Kobe Bryant – 33,643 points.
- Michael Jordan – 32,292 points.
- Dirk Nowitzki – 31,560 points.
- Wilt Chamberlain – 31,419 points.
- Shaquille O’Neal – 28,596 points (just shy of 30,000).
- Carmelo Anthony – 28,289 points (just shy of 30,000).
Antetokounmpo still has a long way to go, but if he stays healthy and maintains his elite level of play, he could cement his place among the game’s all-time greats.
