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Dallas Mavericks: 3 goals for Kostas Antetokounmpo’s rookie season

By Jonathan Turco

Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images
Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images /
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Photo by Adam Lacy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Photo by Adam Lacy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images /

2. Post a positive Defensive Net Rating

On the defensive side of the ball is where Kostas can really thrive. He already has the tools necessary to succeed in becoming a plus-defender against the opposition.

In college, his 8.3 percent block rate would have ranked just outside the top 50, per KenPom.com. That block rate is not one of an elite rim protector, but shows he can be a presence meeting the opposition at the rim.

The highest defensive rating per 100 possessions for a rookie who played in at least 50 games last regular season was big man Royce O’Neale of the Utah Jazz, per NBA.com.

In regular rotation minutes in a backup role (68 games to be exact), O’Neale was impactful on the defensive end, helping the team hold opponents to 97.3 points per 100 possessions against the opposition. O’Neale posted a Net Rating of +10.3 among rookie forwards last season, second only to Jordan Bell (+11.9) of the Golden State Warriors, per NBA.com.

For Kostas, this would be best-case defensive impact he could provide the Mavericks in his limited time outside of G League assignments.

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