Former All-Star claims Giannis Antetokounmpo was being "held hostage" before NBA draft by East team

Giannis Antetokounmpo has been at the top of the NBA for the past few years. The Greek Freak's accomplishments include two MVPs, one Defensive Player of the Year, a Most Improved Player award and a championship ring in 2021. His development is the stuff of legend, but according to former NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas, the Atlanta Hawks tried to hide his talent from opposing teams in 2013.

On his podcast, Gil's Arena, Gilbert Arenas, an 11-year NBA veteran and three-time All-Star, shared a story that Jeff Teague had narrated about the Atlanta Hawks' strategy to ensure they drafted Giannis in 2013. Arenas claimed that the Hawks had Antetokounmpo hide in a basement in the hopes that other NBA teams would not discover his talent and he would fall to the Hawks in the draft.

In a tweet sharing a clip from his podcast, Arenas said on Monday:

"The Hawks held Giannis hostage, then the Bucks snatched him 💀🤣"

In the clip, Arenas said:

"They were trying to figure out, because they didn't think nobody knew about him, how to get him to (pick) 15."

According to Arenas, the Hawks' plan was going smoothly until they made one fatal mistake; firing someone on the management side who knew what they were doing with Antetokounmpo. This person, who went unnamed, found their way to the Milwaukee Bucks and informed them about the Greek prospect's talent and potential.

The Bucks, who owned the pick before the Hawks, drafted Antetokounmpo with the 14th overall pick, and the rest is history.

The Bucks have thrived with Giannis Antetokounmpo who might be enjoying his best season yet as a pro

The Greek Freak has already taken home two NBA MVPs in his career, but has elevated his game to an even higher level this season. Antetokounmpo is averaging 31.4 points, 11.9 rebounds and 6.0 assists per contest this season.

Those numbers mirror the ones during his MVP campaigns, making him one of the frontrunners for the award this season, alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic.

Even though he is playing at the peak of his powers, Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks have had an uneven season so far, sitting at 20-17 and in sixth place in the East.

However unlikely, Antetokounmpo's name has been thrown around in trade rumors, he is apparently a top target of the Brooklyn Nets. The Greek Freak has not expressed interest in moving on from Milwaukee this season but has a history of leveraging his potential exit years to persuade the front office to make moves to improve the roster.