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Giannis: I want LeBron to join Bucks next season

Stacy Revere / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Is the tamperee becoming the tamperer?

Giannis Antetokounmpo is doubling down on his lobbying for LeBron James to join the Milwaukee Bucks.

Asked again who he'd pick if he had the opportunity to draft an All-Star team, the Greek Freak told Eurohoops' Nikos Varlas:

"I would pick LeBron. ... I want to have a good relationship with him before his free agency. You get it? I want him to come and play next year for the Bucks. To come here in Milwaukee, in the cold."

Related - Giannis: I'd pick LeBron 1st in All-Star draft, befriend him 'for free agency'

The Cleveland Cavaliers icon can become an unrestricted free agent after the season, and will have no shortage of suitors. Antetokounmpo hopes his Bucks can be in the mix, and explained why he thinks James is a "special player."

"It's easier for me to enter the game, score 25 points and get 10 rebounds, and consider that I have done my job. It's more difficult to help my teammates. To help the whole team change level," he said.

"That's the thing that LeBron does for many years and that's the difficult part. And I believe that's the reason he should be even more respected. He doesn't get in the court just to score the ball. ... LeBron will score 30, he will also get 15 rebounds. He will also dish 15 assists and changes the level of the whole team."

The Bucks phenom could be penalized for his comments, as the NBA prohibits players from enticing a player under contract with another team to join their team. The league recently fined the Los Angeles Lakers $50,000 for violating its anti-tampering rule based on comments team president Magic Johnson made about Antetokounmpo.

Both James and Antetokounmpo have been voted in as East All-Star starters, though they will represent different teams Sunday in Los Angeles. The leading vote-getter James is the captain of the aptly named Team LeBron, and chose Kevin Durant with the No. 1 pick, while Antetokounmpo was selected second overall on Team Stephen.

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