MILWAUKEE (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo says he appreciated the compliment LeBron James gave him by saying the Milwaukee Bucks star could have scored 250 points in a game if he’d played in the 1970s.
But the two-time MVP also said it isn't really a fair comparison.
“Great compliment, but I don’t like comparing eras,” Antetokounmpo said Friday after the Bucks’ 116-107 loss to the New York Knicks. “It’s not fair. If I’d played in the ’70’s, how everybody practiced and how everybody played, we would have played the same way. That’s all you knew at the time. The game evolves. We got to 2020 and we know more.”
James had made the remark on ESPN’s “The Pat McAfee Show” while discussing how basketball had evolved over the last half century or so.
“You’re trying to tell me Giannis wouldn’t be able to play an NBA game in the ’70’s?” James asked rhetorically. “Giannis Antetokounmpo would have 250 points in a game in the ’70’s – 250. That’s no disrespect, but seriously.”
When Antetokounmpo was first asked about James’ comment, he initially gave a light-hearted response by saying “it would probably be more like 275, not 250” before quickly laughing and pointing out that he was only joking.
Then he gave his serious response by explaining why he believes it isn’t fair to compare players from different eras.
“It’s totally different, so you can’t compare this era with that era,” Antetokounmpo said. “I wish at this era that I play at now – 2025 – I wish I could score 250 points today. But, yeah, I don’t think it’s fair to compare. I’d probably play the same way they played if I played in the ’70’s.
“It’s a great compliment coming from one of the best players in the league. It’s definitely a great compliment. I appreciate it.”
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba
Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) and New York Knicks' Precious Achiuwa fight for a loose ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, March 28, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)
Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo, right, drives to the basket against New York Knicks' Karl-Anthony Towns during the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, March 28, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)
TOKYO (AP) — Business sentiment among large Japanese manufacturers has worsened for the first time in a year, partly because of worries about U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs, according to a survey by Japan’s central bank released Tuesday.
The Bank of Japan’s “tankan” quarterly survey said an index for large manufacturers that shows the percentage of companies foreseeing good conditions minus those feeling pessimistic fell to plus 12 from plus 14 in December, the first dip in four quarters.
Major manufacturers include the key auto and electronics sectors, whose exports to the U.S. are a major driver for the Japanese economy.
A shrinking population has also dragged on Japan’s growth, while rising wages and a tourism boom have helped.
U.S. auto tariffs are a worry for major manufacturers like Toyota Motor Corp. and Nissan Motor Corp.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said Tuesday that his government was engaged in last ditch efforts to get the United States to exclude his country from auto tariffs. He said he was willing to fly to Washington to directly negotiate with Trump if necessary.
The U.S. will begin collecting 25% tariffs on auto imports on Thursday, with taxes on fully-imported cars kicking off at midnight, U.S. time. The tariffs are set to expand to applicable auto parts in the following weeks, through May 3.
Japanese automakers also have plants in Mexico. Trump’s tariffs on imports from Mexico took effect last month.
The Bank of Japan holds a monetary policy meeting ending April 1 to mull further interest rate raises, and the tankan findings will be among the key data looked at to make the decision.
Japan’s export-dependent economy has also been hit by slowdowns in overseas demand, as well as rising material costs, worsened by the weakening yen. The U.S. dollar has been trading near 150 yen, up considerably from 110-yen levels marked five years ago.
The tankan showed sentiment for large nonmanufacturers rose from plus 33 to plus 35, boosted by healthy tourist traffic.
Also Wednesday, the Japanese government reported the nation’s unemployment rate stood at 2.4%, a slight improvement from the previous month.
Yuri Kageyama is on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@yurikageyama
Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba speaks during a press conference at his office in Tokyo Tuesday, April 1, 2025. (Nicolas Datiche/Pool Photo via AP)
FILE - A container ship is loaded and unloaded at a container terminal at a port of Kawasaki near Tokyo on March 9, 2022. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara, File)
