Lakers' LeBron James Jokes Giannis Would Score 250 Points in a 1970s NBA Game

Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James joked this week that Giannis Antetokounmpo would have smashed the single-game NBA scoring record had he played back in the 1970s.

In a preview clip of his appearance on the Pat McAfee Show on Wednesday, James said the Milwaukee Bucks star would have scored 250 points in a game had he played in the '70s.

The context of the clip isn't entirely clear, but it seems James may have been clapping back at the notion peddled by some that today's players couldn't have succeeded in a more physical, bygone era.

While it may be true that some players wouldn't have thrived as much when there was greater emphasis on defense and interior play, Giannis and LeBron are obvious exceptions due to their size and strength.

Antetokounmpo has long been one of the most physically impressive players in the league, as he stands 6'11" and weighs 243 pounds.

While most offensive stars rely on three-point shooting, Giannis' bread and butter is getting to the basket and causing havoc, which has helped him become one of the all-time greats.

The 30-year-old veteran is a nine-time All-Star, two-time NBA MVP, one-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year, one-time NBA champion and one-time NBA Finals MVP.

He figures to be one of the top finishers in the MVP voting once again this season by virtue of averaging 30.2 points, 12.0 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 1.2 blocks per game.

Hall of Famer Wilt "The Stilt" Chamberlain set the single-game NBA scoring record in 1962, dropping 100 points in the Philadelphia Warriors' 169-147 win over the New York Knicks.

Chamberlain is one of the greatest players in NBA history, as he averaged 30.1 points and 22.9 rebounds per game during his career, thanks largely to the size advantage he had over most of his contemporaries at 7'1" and 275 pounds.

Giannis would be in a similar situation, so it isn't out of line to think he may have dominated to the same degree had he played in a different era.