The Milwaukee Bucks trio of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday are the best “Big Three” in the NBA. Many fans would loudly protest this assertion. This would be a knee-jerk reaction devoid of analysis. Ever since LeBron James took his talents to South Beach, the formula for winning a championship has been to comprise a top-heavy starting lineup surrounded by also-rans who don’t mind being a subplot to a compelling drama.
However, the Bucks have managed to form a Big Three that fits together perfectly while not sacrificing quality role players in the supporting cast.
The Brooklyn Nets are the elephant in the room. When James Harden was acquired via trade, many pundits automatically selected them to be the favorites in the Eastern Conference. Going all-in on an NBA Finals trip this season meant sacrificing youth, defense and rebounding to partner “The Beard” with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. Meanwhile, Milwaukee’s biggest off-season move of acquiring Holiday allowed them to maintain their defensive identity and rebounding prowess.
The Milwaukee Bucks’ Big Three is ready to win a championship
Giannis Antetokounmpo is a two-time league MVP who will not be satisfied until he is the best player in the world and the Bucks are NBA champions. Khris Middleton is a perennial All-Star who’s shown a knack for coming up big in crucial playoff games. Jrue Holiday is a two time All-NBA Defensive Team selection who can score the ball. Let’s take a look at why these three players gel together better than any other trio of stars in the NBA.
The Milwaukee Bucks trio has clearly defined roles
After getting a rare blocked shot on defense, Jrue Holiday takes the ball coast to coast and attempts to dunk on the opposing team’s center. Unable to overcome the seven-footer’s reach, his shot is blocked, the ball bounces off his chest, and Milwaukee loses possession. On the Bucks’ next offensive set, Khris Middleton stays in the back-court and demands that Brook Lopez inbound the ball to him instead of Holiday.
Once past half court, Middleton passes the ball to Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Greek Freak then proceeds to dribble for ten seconds before heaving up a step-back three that clangs off the side of the rim and goes out of bounds. Now open your eyes and wipe the cold sweat from your forehead.
It was just a nightmare. This will never happen in Milwaukee.
One of the reasons Milwaukee’s three All-Stars are a great fit is that their talents complement each other. Jrue Holiday is the feisty point guard who knows how to get the ball in the hands of his star forwards in their favorite spots. Khris Middleton is the knockdown shooter who spreads the floor and creates driving lanes by forcing the defense to step onto the perimeter. Giannis Antetokounmpo is the unstoppable force of nature, capable of knocking down an open shot but at his best when attacking the basket.
When basketball fans learned that Holiday would be joining Middleton and Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee, no one asked whether or not one ball would be enough. The fact is, these three are not having any trouble coexisting on the court. Sunday’s win against the Atlanta Hawks was only a precursor of things to come. Antetotokounmpo led all scorers with 27 points, Middleton contributed 19 points and Holiday added a solid 15 points and five assists for good measure. It’s this type of balanced attack that has Bucks fans salivating in anticipation of things to come.
Health and longevity
Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton are both in their 20’s. Jrue Holiday won’t turn 31 until the NBA Finals. Given the durability, youth and preparation of these three players, the Bucks have a core that can potentially win the NBA title this year and stay in contention for years to come.
When the phrase “Big 3” is mentioned in NBA circles this season, the Brooklyn Nets core of Kevin Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving will come to mind. However, Durant and Irving’s extensive injury history cannot be ignored. While they’ve both been healthy this year, each has had multiple seasons greatly impacted by injury. Durant is 32, Harden is 31 and Irving is 28. While certainly not old by NBA standards, when the fact that all three players have multiple deep playoff runs under belt only adds to the wear and tear on their bodies.
Milwaukee’s three All-Stars on the other hand are among the most durable in the league. They are each chomping at the bit to reach the NBA Finals for the first time in their careers. It must also be noted that head coach Mike Budenholzer is a disciple of San Antonio Spurs legend Gregg Popovich. “Pop” invented load management when Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili began slowing down. To keep his Big 3 ready for the playoffs, he managed their minutes or kept them out of games entirely. Having witnessed this first hand, Budenholzer will make sure his best three players are well-rested and ready to go come playoff time.
Elite defensive prowess
There’s an old adage that says the last act of defense is securing the rebound. That being said, last season’s career-high of 6.2 rebounds per contest by Khris Middleton should not be overlooked. So far this season he is on the same pace, corralling 6.3 boards per night. While Middleton may never make his way onto an NBA All-Defensive team, he is certainly not a defensive liability. Opponents know they can’t be sloppy with the ball when he is assigned to them. For his career, he’s averaging 1.2 steals per game. Lose concentration for a moment and the Bucks will be headed the other way.
Jrue Holiday and Giannis Antetokounmpo on the other hand are not underrated defenders. They are both lauded for their defensive prowess. Holiday has been named to the NBA All-Defensive team twice in his career. Antetokounmpo is the reigning Defensive Player of the Year. Opposing head coaches know that their point guard will experience pressure from Holiday when they face the Bucks. They know that scoring at the rim will be that much more challenging with Giannis potentially rotating over for a highlight reel block. Simply put, Milwaukee’s Big Three gets it done on both sides of the ball night in and night out.
The term “Big Three” has been tossed around a lot in NBA circles for more than a decade. This season, Milwaukee’s trio of stars fits together better than any other trio in the NBA. The franchise has not backed down from stating they are in win-now mode. To support their three All-Stars, they’ve surrounded them with capable veterans who’ve embraced their roles. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday have showered each other with praise in the media. They believe they have what it takes to get the job done. Now the only thing left is to get out there and do it.