Skip to content

Giannis: LeBron's absence 'definitely' left Eastern Conference open

Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Giannis Antetokounmpo is three wins away from a first appearance in the NBA Finals, an achievement that may not have been possible in years past thanks to one LeBron James.

The former Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat superstar was a fixture on the league's biggest stage, making eight straight trips to the NBA Finals from 2011-18. However, James signed a four-year deal with the Los Angeles Lakers last summer, ending his reign over the Eastern Conference and making room for contenders like Antetokounmpo's Milwaukee Bucks.

"I didn't see it as open," Antetokounmpo told ESPN's Malika Andrews on Thursday. "But now that I look back and see how everything went, it's definitely open, not having LeBron in the East and not trying to go through him."

Despite James' consistent conference dominance, James and Antetokounmpo have never squared off in the postseason. The two stars would have met in the conference semifinals in 2015 and 2017, but the Bucks were eliminated in the first round on both occasions (by the Chicago Bulls and Toronto Raptors, respectively).

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox