Giannis Antetokounmpo said he owes Steph Curry.
Last year, the Warriors star selected the rangy Milwaukee Bucks forward with his first pick in the NBA's first-ever NBA All-Star draft. The Greek Freak is a captain this year, and he said on Monday that he wants to repay the debt.
"I might pick Steph [first] because he picked me first last year, so I gotta return the favor," Antetokounmpo told reporters in Brooklyn after the Bucks' win over the Nets on Monday. "And after that? I don't know. I think it's going to be random, but I'm going to try to pick first-year guys and of course [Bucks teammate Khris Middleton]."
If the MVP contender picks Curry with his first pick, he'll have a two-time MVP on his squad as he goes up against LeBron James' hand-picked group. Antetokounmpo might not get the chance, however, as James will have the top pick in Thursday's draft.
James picked a Warrior -- Kevin Durant -- with his first pick last year, so it's not out of the question he goes the Golden State route again. Plus, if he does, it'll be fun to watch the rumor mill kick into overdrive as it desperately tries to glean any kind of meaning for free agency.
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Curry is probably hoping he plays alongside Antetokounmpo, if only to save face. Before the game last year, Curry joked he would pick Antetokounmpo in order to avoid getting posterized again.
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"May have to get him on my team so that doesn't happen again," Curry quipped at the time.
This year, avoiding that fate is out of his hands.