Giannis Antetokounmpo set an audacious target in the wake of Milwaukee’s win over Brooklyn: by the time he’s 35 and “sitting in this chair,” he expects to be leading the all-time scoring list.
Antetokounmpo’s prediction came a day after he surpassed 21,000 career points, becoming the 42nd player, and sixth-youngest, to hit the mark during a 29-point performance in Milwaukee’s 116–99 victory over the Nets. He shot 12-of-15 in 19 minutes and reached the milestone with a third-quarter three.
“I think when I’m going to be 35 years old and sitting in this chair, we are going to have a discussion how I am the top list of all time in scoring.”
“I think when I’m going to be 35 years old and sitting in this chair, we are going to have a discussion how I am the top list of all time in scoring.”
– Giannis
(🎥 @Bucks / h/t @Fullcourtpass )
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) November 30, 2025
Antetokounmpo believes the ascent could come within four to five years, roughly the window leading up to his 35th birthday. Eclipsing a record that took two decades to set would demand elite health, and high-volume scoring, which does not make this a realistic target.
Antetokounmpo’s game remains anchored in volume at the rim, transition dominance, and improved efficiency, traits that translate into bankable counting stats. Yet the path to No. 1 is unforgiving: it balances nightly production with longevity and adaptability, especially as teams alter schemes to blunt his strengths. Still, with another milestone behind him and a public marker laid down, the chase becomes a living storyline…
