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Antetokounmpo used cough drops after his first coaching win and targets it as a career when he retires.
Greek-Nigerian professional basketball player Giannis Antetokounmpo has stated his desire to become a coach.
The 28-year-old made his coaching debut for Team Dwyane Wade in the NBA All-Star celebrity game.
It turned out to be a winning coaching debut for Antetokounmpo as Team Dwyane Wade defeated Team Ryan Smith to emerge 2023 NBA All-Star celebrity game champions.
In the game, Antetokoumpo showed all the elements needed to be a good coach by providing tactics with plays on his clipboard, speaking with the officials as well as motivating his players.
Speaking about the NBA All-Star celebrity game, Antetokoumpo said, "I lost my voice," he said. "But I got some cough drops, we got the win, I'm happy, we're good."
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Antetokounmpo wants to be a coach
The coaching gig at the NBA All-Star celebrity game was not a one-off for Antetokounmpo.
After the game, he stated that he intends to become a coach at the highest level once he retires from the sport.
Antetokounmpo is one of the greatest 75 players in basketball history but believes after retirement he still has more to give to the game.
Speaking told the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel he said, “Afterward, when I retire, I want to be a head coach. A lot of people don’t know that about me, but I want to be a head coach.
"I really want to be,” Antetokounmpo after he coached in the NBA Celebrity All-Star Game Friday night.
“It’s kind of hard, because you have no control. And, I know the game of basketball, I know how to play the game of basketball, so it’s hard.”
Antetokoumpo a two-time MVP is not the first great player to choose coaching upon retirement. Legends such as Bill Russell, Magic Johnson, and Isiah Thomas took up head coaching jobs as soon as they retired.
Antetokoumpo is battling with a wrist injury ahead of the NBA All-Star game in the early hours of Monday, February 20, 2023.
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