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Giannis won't work out with LeBron, KD because it 'doesn't feel right'

Noah Graham / National Basketball Association / Getty

Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo is one of the NBA's budding stars, and he's among the front-runners for this season's MVP Award.

At 6-foot-11, he possesses a unique skill set that LeBron James and Kevin Durant could learn from. But Antetokounmpo isn't willing to share his secrets, and this past summer he declined to join a workout that included James and Durant after Carmelo Anthony invited him.

"I can't work out with you in the summer and then play you in a few months," Antetokounmpo told The Athletic's Eric Nehm. "It feels weird. It doesn't feel right with me. Like other players, it's cool for other players, but I don't. I don't want to. Other guys do it."

It's common to see the league's best players gather together for summer workouts. This past offseason, Toronto Raptors star Kawhi Leonard joined Durant and James for a session.

Antetokounmpo, however, is all business and doesn't participate in those workouts. The two-time All-Star adopts an old-school approach and refuses to pose for photos with his closest competitors.

“I hate that," said Antetokounmpo. "I don’t want (opponents) to see me to be buddy buddy with me"

"Let’s say I worked out with KD, LeBron. Going before the game, grabbing dinners, nope. Nope. Nope. No, no, no, no.”

Antetokounmpo made one exception to his usual offseason routine when he reached out to Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant.

He reasoned that Bryant had nothing to gain from seeing a couple of his tendencies, whereas Durant or James could use information against him, just as the former did to LeBron after summer workouts together in 2011 and 2012.

“I feel like with LeBron and KD, KD did that to LeBron,” said Antetokounmpo. “Take a lot of his thoughts and use it against him. And that’s what I don’t want guys doing to me.”

Through 23 games this season, Antetokounmpo is averaging 26.8 points and career highs in rebounds (13.0) and assists (6.0) per contest.

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