4 Central Division players who could surpass LeBron James
By Ryan Piers
1. Giannis Antetokounmpo
It’s a bit unfair including Antetokounmpo in this list, because he’s nearly at LeBron’s level now. The Greek Freak is fourth in the league in VORP, and a solidified MVP candidate.
He doesn’t really come to mind when you think of “who’s next” because he’s already here.
But the thing is, Antetokounmpo just turned 23 years old. By superstar standards he’s still a baby. Even when he became the youngest player to win MVP, Derrick Rose wasn’t posting numbers like this. Here’s a comparison between Rose’s MVP season and what Antetokounmpo is doing right now.
- Derrick Rose (2010-11): 25.0 PPG, 7.7 APG, 4.1 RPG
- Giannis Antetokounmpo: 29.6 PPG, 4.6 APG, 10.5 RPG
The young Buck is one of the league’s brightest stars, the centerpiece in a recent wave of international talent. He is both the division, and possibly the Eastern Conference’s second-best player.
But here’s the catch about Antetokounmpo: He hasn’t even scratched the surface of what he can be. Antetokounmpo leads the league in 2-point field goals per game, yet is third in the league in scoring. He averages a made 3 every two games.
The last non-post player to finish top three in scoring without hitting more than one 3 per game was James in 2011-12.
Imagine what happens when Antetokounmpo develops that outside shot. Defenses will extend, giving him room to drive. He’ll score at least a point or two more per game by hitting more 3s. And it’s really a matter of if, not when Antetokounmpo learns to shoot from deep. If Marc Gasol and Brooke Lopez can do it, so can he.
Next: 2018 NBA Mock Draft: End of 2017 edition
Antetokounmpo still has potential for growth, and that’s a scary thought for teams outside of Milwaukee.