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Milwaukee Bucks: The sky is the limit for Giannis Antetokounmpo

By Clevis Murray

BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 18: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks takes a shot over Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics during the second quarter at TD Garden on October 18, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 18: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks takes a shot over Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics during the second quarter at TD Garden on October 18, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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The sky is the limit for Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo, who continues to develop at an unprecedented rate

The entire basketball community knew it was coming. In year five, at the tender age of 22, Giannis Antetokounmpo, also known as “The Greek Freak” by many, has solidified himself as an NBA star.

Giannis is coming off his 2016-17 breakout season in which he averaged 22.9 points, 8.8 rebounds 5.4 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.9 blocks – all career highs – which led to him winning the Most Improved Player award.

Along with the aforementioned accolade, he became the Milwaukee Bucks’ first All-Star since Michael Redd in 2004 and was their leading man in their return to the playoffs before losing to the Toronto Raptors in six games, after holding a 2-1 series lead.

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Antetokounmpo opened the 2017-18 season strong, with four consecutive 30-point games, which included a career-high 44 points against the Portland Trail Blazers. Through his first five games he had 175 points, which is the most by a Buck through that span to start a season since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s 166 to start 1970-71.

He’s currently averaging 31 points, 9.9 rebounds, five assists, 1.7 steals and 1.4 blocks per game through nine games. His 279 total points through nine games is the most by a Buck since Redd’s 282 to start 2006-07.

Golden State Warriors forward and reigning NBA Finals MVP, Kevin Durant, sees the great potential in the Bucks’ franchise player. As Durant relayed via his YouTube page.

"“The Greek Freak, I think, is a force. I’ve never seen anything like him,” Durant said. “His ceiling is probably — he could end up being the best player to ever play if he really wanted to. That’s pretty scary to think about.”"

In a game where the stigma is now “everyone needs a jump shot,” Antetokounmpo is demolishing that idea. He’s averaging over 30 points while only attempting 2.3 3-pointers per game. If he continues averaging 30 for the reminder of the season while attempting less than three 3-pointers per game, he’d become the first player to do since Michael Jordan in 1992-93.

Giannis’ playstyle is retro for the modern NBA, as it’s been merged with superior athleticism. According to NBA.com/stats, he’s averaging 8.9 points off drives (5th in NBA) and is heading to the hoop 55.3 per cent of the time. 88.8% of his shots are two-pointer and he’s connected on 65.7% of his attempts. A high number for a primary scorer in today’s NBA who isn’t the typical big man.

He’s becoming a LeBron James type of player with his ability to create havoc without a consistent jumpshot. Both are one and two in the league in field-goal attempts in the restricted area. Giannis is No. 1 with 10.7 per contest, and is shooting 77.4% when he does so.

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The season is young and so he is Giannis, but he’s proved and showed his ability to develop into not only a good NBA player, but a great one. From a stats point of view, he really is on pace to become a legend in the game of basketball. What will catapult his stature amongst the legends of the game is winning; performance in the playoffs; consistency and longevity.

Can Giannis, do it? Only time will tell. But if he’s in the same breath as Jordan and James, according to the numbers, then there’s no reason why he couldn’t become the league’s best player once James calls it career sometime in the 2020’s.

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