Milwaukee Bucks: Giannis Antetokounmpo Becoming a Star
The Milwaukee Bucks made the ultimate gamble on one of the most unproven prospects in NBA Draft history. Giannis Antetokounmpo is rewarding their faith.
The 2013 NBA Draft was one that many general managers would like to forget. The Top 5 was riddled with mistakes, including a No. 1 overall draft pick who has played for three teams and is currently a free agent.
There was no bigger mistake amongst general managers than that of the 14 who let Giannis Antetokounmpo slip to the Milwaukee Bucks at No. 15 overall.
In all fairness, Antetokounmpo was one of the most polarizing prospects in NBA Draft history. His physical gifts created speculation about his elite upside, but he played in a rather uncompetitive Greek league that caused many to rationally believe that he wouldn’t be able to handle the physicality of the NBA.
So much for all of that.
Antetokounmpo proved to belong as early as his rookie season. He did nothing spectacular, but he flashed his upside while playing at a quality level before breaking out as a player to watch during the 2014-15 campaign.
In 2015-16, Antetokounmpo is doing more than just adjusting; beyond his full-season averages of 16.7 points, 7.7 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.3 blocks, and 1.2 steals per game, the 21-year-old is breaking out.
The time is approaching for Antetokounmpo to be recognized as one of the true stars of the Association.
Change of Responsibilities
On paper, the Milwaukee Bucks matched their ambition with precision in the construction of a fascinating roster. They found multiple high-quality players at all five positions, and put at least one player with All-Star upside at every spot in the starting lineup.
That’s no exaggeration; Milwaukee genuinely had five players with All-Star potential at all five positions.
Point guard Michael Carter-Williams, 24, won Rookie of the Year in 2014, and shooting guard Khris Middleton, 24, is averaging 18.3 points per game in 2015-16. Power forward Jabari Parker, 21, went No. 2 overall in the 2014 NBA Draft, and center Greg Monroe, 25, is a nightly double-double threat who was one of the most coveted free agents in 2015.
Throw Giannis Antetokounmpo, 21, into the mix and it’s easy to see why Milwaukee believed it could overwhelm the competition with the individual talent it had required.
Unfortunately, the Bucks forgot to account for the most important factor: youth. While Milwaukee may have the talent, teams that successfully stack the roster with star-caliber talent generally do so with veterans who have learned to put their egos aside—a skill most often acquired through years of experience.
It took time, but head coach Jason Kidd finally realized the need to make changes to his rotation. No one has benefited more than Antetokounmpo.
Becoming a Point Forward
Entering the 2013 NBA Draft, two words were thrown around to describe Giannis Antetokounmpo’s NBA future—and no, I’m not talking about, “Greek Freak.” The phrase most commonly used in reference to Antetokounmpo was, “Point forward.”
After two years of being an off-ball threat, Antetokounmpo is showing exactly why that hype existed.
Over his past 13 appearances, Antetokounmpo is averaging 8.8 assists per game. He’s recorded at least 10 assists in seven of those 13 outings, including a 14-assist performance against the Brooklyn Nets on March 13.
Antetokounmpo has dished out at least six assists in four of the six games he’s failed to eclipse 10.
During that 13-game stretch, Antetokounmpo has ranked No. 6 in the NBA in points created via assists per game. The only players ahead of him are Chris Paul, Rajon Rondo, John Wall, Russell Westbrook, and Ricky Rubio—also known as the five best facilitators in the Association.
If you weren’t a believer before, this 13-game period should at least capture your attention.
Antetokounmpo’s emergence as a facilitator makes it far easier to believe that he can coexist with Jabari Parker—the other forward and building block who can’t hit a jumper. Over that same 13-game span, Parker is averaging 19.2 points on 49.5 percent shooting from the field—significantly better numbers than he’d been posting with Michael Carter-Williams running the show.
If Antetokounmpo can maintain his current pace, he, Parker, and Khris Middleton can lead the organization to a very bright future.
All-Around Star
It’s been established that The Greek Freak is coming into his own as a facilitator. The next step is to acknowledge something that might seem outlandish, but is becoming much easier to believe with every passing performance.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is dangerously close to being the most well-rounded player in the NBA—and he might already be there.
Antetokounmpo isn’t just averaging 8.8 assists during his past 13 games; he’s posting marks of 19.8 points, 9.2 rebounds, 8.8 assists, 2.1 blocks, and 1.9 steals per game. He’s doing so while shooting 51.6 percent from the field, and committing just 2.8 turnovers per contest.
Those aren’t just good numbers; they’re statistics that defy reality.
Antetokounmpo’s sample size is small, but here’s some perspective. According to Basketball-Reference.com, no player in NBA history has averaged at least 15.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, 8.0 assists, and 2.0 blocks per game, and that’s without including the barometer of 1.0 steal.
Antetokounmpo has been safely above every one of those marks for roughly one-sixth of the season.
Clearly, 13 outings aren’t an 82-game season. 13 outings is also an inaccurate measurement of how long he’s been playing at a star-caliber level.
Over his past 30 appearances, which is a far more healthy sample size, Antetokounmpo is averaging 18.9 points, 8.8 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 1.7 blocks, and 1.5 steals on 51.6 percent shooting from the field.
Whether or not you’re hearing about it, Giannis Antetokounmpo is becoming a star before our very eyes.
If he can develop a reliable jump shot, he could be the next best player in the world.