In the 2013 NBA Draft, Giannis Antetokounmpo, now affectionately known as the “Greek Freak”, was selected by the Milwaukee Bucks with the 15th overall pick.
The Minnesota Timberwolves had the no. 14 overall pick and selected Shabazz Muhammad from UCLA, but as reported by Zach Lowe of ESPN, that selection was nearly Giannis:
They nearly picked Giannis Antetokounmpo over Muhammad before settling on Muhammad as the clock was ticking in the draft room, per several sources.
Aside from the fact that this kind of information being ‘leaked’ through sources is pretty redundant (of course Antetokounmpo was on Minnesota’s radar with the 15th pick) it’s interesting to consider what might have been had they gone with the Greek Freak.
Looking at Muhammad and Antetokounmpo’s numbers through their first two seasons, it’s not glaringly clear that Minnesota made a bad decision. Giannis has played nearly twice as many games due to Muhammad struggling with spotty injuries.
The development of Giannis has been more consistent and the league is rightfully excited about him, hence the prescribed nickname, so the idea of Giannis alongside the likes of Andrew Wiggins, Zach LaVine, and Karl Anthony-Towns makes one think that the Timberwolves did make the wrong decision. But stepping on the butterflies of fate is consequential, so drafting Giannis in 2013 could mean they don’t end up with Wiggins or LaVine or Towns. No matter the potential possibilities, this information probably didn’t come from a place of severe regret.
