Giannis On Kobe's Challenge On Him To Win MVP And NBA Championship: "When He Did, He Made Me Believe"

Giannis Antetokounmpo became the first player to complete Kobe Bryant's challenge.

In 2017, After Giannis asked Kobe for his challenge, Kobe challenged Giannis to win an MVP award.





Giannis then won the NBA MVP in 2017, The 'Black Mamba' then proceed to challenge him to win an NBA Championship.


Last night, Giannis has done it again, completing Kobe's challenge on him.

During the press conference after Game 6 of the NBA Finals, Giannis was asked if how he feels about fulfilling Kobe's challenge.

He said that he initially approached Kobe for a challenge as a joke only, but Kobe responded. When Kobe challenged him to win an NBA MVP, it boosted his confidence and he wanted to repay Kobe's faith on him.

"It means a lot. This started almost as a joke at first. He was in a Nike ad, and I think he was sending challenges to players. I was like ‘Let me just shoot my shot.' - "What's my challenge?". And he was like "MVP". At first, I was like joking, I didn't think he was going to respond to me. When he did, he made me believe.

I was like ‘Kobe Bryant thinks I can do this. I can play at the highest level and lead my team and win an MVP?' I had to do it. I had to work hard. Not necessarily to not let him down, I had to work hard because people believed I could do it."