When we analyse the “ideal modern power forward” archetype that emphasises floor-spacing and versatile perimeter offence, Giannis, does not fit that mold. His unique strengths, while overwhelmingly effective in the regular season games nobody cares about, highlight a fascinating divergence from the modern PF ideal. In the playoffs this becomes painfully apparent despite his stat padding and personal numbers.
The Missing Element: Elite Three-Point Shooting
The most significant factor differentiating Giannis from the ideal modern power forward is his inconsistent and often-reluctant three-point shot. The stretch four, a big man who consistently hits shots from deep, has become a cornerstone of contemporary NBA offences. They pull opposing bigs out of the paint, creating driving lanes and spacing for guards and wings. Giannis shot worse than ever in his career last season from 3 in fact it was one of the worse seasons in NBA history for 3pt percentage.
Giannis, for all his offensive brilliance, has never developed into a reliable perimeter shooter. Throughout his career, his three-point percentage has largely hovered below league average. For example, in the 2023-24 season, he shot just 27.4% from beyond the arc on 1.7 attempts per game. In the 2024-25 season, that number dropped even further to 22.2% on 0.9 attempts per game. (Source: StatMuse). This forces a different offensive approach for the Milwaukee Bucks. Defenses often sag off Giannis on the perimeter, daring him to shoot, and instead pack the paint to deny his drives. While he can overcome this with sheer force sometimes, it undeniably limits the offensive versatility and spacing his team can achieve compared to a true stretch four.
Offensive Playmaking – A Different Kind of Facilitation
While the ideal modern PF possesses strong play making skills, Giannis’s play making operates differently. He excels as a primary ball-handler, initiating offence with his drives and finding teammates through his gravity at the rim. He consistently averages high assist numbers for a big man, including 6.5 assists per game in the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons (Source: StatMuse). But again this is stat padding more than actual results for the team.
A modern PF playmaker often facilitates from the perimeter, running pick-and-pops or making quick reads from the elbow. Giannis’s play making stems almost entirely from his downhill attacking, drawing multiple defenders and then dishing to open shooters or cutters. While effective in easier games, it relies less on refined perimeter passing and more on creating chaos and reacting to help defence. This is a subtle but important distinction in the context of floor spacing and offensive flow.
Defensive Profile: Elite, But Not Necessarily “Switchable” in the Modern Sense
Defensively, Giannis is an absolute force. His length and athleticism used to make him a perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate. He no longer leads the league in defensive rebounds for a reason, and his rim protection (averaging 1.1 blocks per game in 2023-24 and 1.2 blocks per game in 2024-25) and ability to guard in transition are often quoted. (Source: StatMuse).
However, the “switchability” aspect of the ideal modern PF emphasizes the ability to seamlessly switch onto smaller, quicker guards on the perimeter and contain them consistently. While Giannis can certainly hold his own on switches due to his incredible length and recovery speed, opposing teams still often try to exploit him in isolation against agile guards. His defensive strength lies more in his heliocentric defensive impact – rotating, covering ground, and acting as a weak-side shot blocker or primary rim protector – rather than pure one-on-one perimeter lock down ability against every position. He lacks basketball IQ and lateral speed to respond quickly and adapt.
A Unique Dominator, Not a Prototype
Giannis Antetokounmpo is an outlier, a player whose incredible physical gifts and relentless drive allowed him to dominate the league in a way that defies conventional archetypes. He used to force teams to adjust to him, rather than conforming his game to a predetermined ideal. His success is a testament to the idea that there are multiple paths to elite performance in the NBA. But it has not stood the test of time. It worked briefly, then teams figured him out. Sure, in the regular season not many opponents bother to D up against him, but when it counts? Giannis is worse than useless.
While the “ideal modern power forward” continues to evolve, heavily leaning into perimeter shooting and fluid offensive versatility, Giannis seems to be regressing and doubling down in the few things he does. And these don’t work in the post season as opponents can easily neutralise him when it counts. Giannis has not developed as the NBA speeds along to a whole new playing style.
