Nov 26, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard
Giannis Antetokounmpo(34) looks on during the third quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center. The Bucks defeated the Timberwolves 103-86. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Giannis Antetokounmo
The “Greek Freak” went out with a bang last season. After letting frustration get the best of him against Mike Dunleavy Jr and the Chicago Bulls last year, he looks to move onward with his success. At nearly 7-feet tall and a slender 220 lbs, he is a physical freak. With a 7-foot-3 wingspan and great ball handling ability, he offers a unique skill set that few others can match. His ball handling was actually good enough for Jason Kidd to try him at point guard at various points last seasons.
At just 20 years old, Giannis has the potential to become a star. His defensive versatility is something that makes coaches drool. Does he still need to grow up?
Apr 30, 2015; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Chicago Bulls forward Mike Dunleavy (34) looks on after being knocked down by Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) (not pictured) during the second quarter in game six of the first round of the NBA Playoffs. at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Absolutely. The lack of maturity showed in his actions against Dunleavy shows that there is still plenty of room for growth. However, the hope is he takes it as learning experience and takes that frustration out on improving his game.
One area of his game that needs drastic improvement is his jump shot. Until he develops some kind of consistency on the perimeter, teams will continue to give him space until they can make him pay.
He shot a horrendous 16 percent from 3-point range last season and by playing out on the wing that could lead to a potential hazardous handicap for the Bucks offensively. Inside of 19 feet he shot a decent 52 percent, but outside of 19 feet he was 24 percent… basically not good. The good news is that he knows his strength. Out of his 780 shot attempts last season, 449 of them came inside of five feet. His ability to finish in both transition and half-court situations are his bread and butter.
The fact that “The Greek Freak” could be a star is something that fans should be excited about. If he continues his upward trend of improvement, this young Buck could be a very dangerous player for many years to come.
Next: Jason Kidd