Each summer, as the NBA season winds down, fans and analysts turn their attention to what players like Giannis do during the off season. For Antetokounmpo, the summer is a blend of international competition, family time, philanthropy, and targeted training. However, a narrative persists that Giannis doesn’t significantly improve his game during these months.

A History of Giannis’s Summer Activities

Early Career (2013–2016): Building the Foundation

In his early NBA years, Giannis was a raw prospect, drafted 15th overall by the Milwaukee Bucks in 2013. His summers were focused on adapting to the NBA’s physicality and pace. During this period, he spent significant time in the gym, working on his strength and conditioning to transform his lanky 6’9” frame into the 6’11” powerhouse he is today. Regarding physical strength nobody can really complain about Giannis, the problem is with his skillset.

• 2013–2014: As a rookie, Giannis’s summer was about acclimating to the NBA. He participated in the Bucks’ training camps and worked on basic skills like ball-handling and shooting. His commitment to daily gym work—reportedly spending 5–7 hours a day—was evident, laying the groundwork for his versatility.
• 2014–2015: Giannis represented Greece at the 2014 FIBA World Cup, averaging 6.3 points and 4.3 rebounds in limited minutes. This experience exposed him to high-level international competition but didn’t really lead to him enhancing his court vision and defensive instincts. He also played in the NBA Summer League, trying to refine his skills against other young prospects.
• 2015–2016: This summer marked a pivotal shift. Bucks coach Jason Kidd began experimenting with Giannis as a point guard, a role that required him to improve his ball-handling and decision-making. He spent the off season working on these skills, which translated into a breakout 2016–17 season where he led the Bucks in all five major statistical categories. Has he improved in ball handling though? Not at an NBA elite level by any means. He is “passable” but still leads the league in travelling, palming and other violations in 2025.

Mid-Career (2017–2020): Rising to Stardom

As Giannis ascended to All-Star status, his summers balanced international play, NBA training, and growing off-court commitments. His work ethic remained relentless, but the focus shifted toward business aspects and less about the game.

• 2017: After earning the NBA’s Most Improved Player award, Giannis spent the summer on his passing and playmaking. He worked with coaches to counter defensive strategies like double-teaming, which teams began employing as he became a focal point of the Bucks’ offence. It is now 2025 and he doesn’t seem even now to be able to handle double teams.
• 2018: Giannis continued to train in Milwaukee, focusing on his physicality and finishing through contact. He also engaged in charitable activities, hosting tournaments in Greece with his brothers to give back to his community. Again, outside the court he is doing great, but the targets he set for on court improvement never showed up.
• 2019: Following his first MVP season, Giannis played in the 2019 FIBA World Cup, averaging 14.8 points and 8.8 rebounds. Off the court, he spent time with his family, amidst rising fame which he seems to enjoy with high profile outings to Greek jet set destinations and media appearances.
• 2020: The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted traditional offseason routines, but Giannis used the time to work on his midrange shooting and free-throw mechanics. Clearly none of this translated into results as 2025 was his worse free throw percentage ever in his career.

Championship Era (2021–2023): Cementing Greatness

After leading the Bucks to the 2021 NBA championship, Giannis’s summers became a mix of recovery, international duties, but not much targeted skill work. His global profile grew, adding media and endorsement obligations.

• 2021: Fresh off a Finals MVP performance, Giannis dealt with a hyperextended knee injury from the playoffs. His summer focused on rehabilitation, but he still trained to maintain his conditioning. He also began working on his jump shot, aiming to address a career-long critique. After a terrible 2025 playoff performance in this respect (basically almost no mid range in the playoffs) it is clear that he can’t improve when it counts.
• 2022: Giannis played for Greece at EuroBasket, dropping 31 points and 10 rebounds in just 20 minutes against Spain in a friendly match. He worked on his three-point shooting, going viral for hitting seven consecutive corner threes in warmups. While his in-game three-point percentage remained low (28.8% career), his form showed improvement. However 2025 marks not only his worse 3point percentage in his entire career but close to the worse 3pt percentage in a single season of anyone ever in NBA history.
• 2023: Giannis prioritized rest and family time after another grueling season. He also engaged in philanthropy, donating to Milwaukee community centers, reflecting his commitment to his adopted city.

Recent Years (2024–2025): Olympic Pride and Trade Rumors

• 2024: Giannis was named Greece’s flag bearer for the Paris 2024 Olympics, a significant honour. He trained for the Olympic qualifiers, leading Greece despite getting terrible results. Off the court, he navigated trade rumours as the Bucks faced playoff disappointments, but he remained in Milwaukee.
• 2025 (Ongoing): As of May 2025, Giannis is likely preparing for another season amid speculation about his future with the Bucks. His summer plans typically include training in Milwaukee or Greece, international competition, and family time.

Why the Perception of Stagnation* persists*

Giannis hasn’t improved significantly:

• Three-Point Shooting: Giannis’s career three-point percentage is 28.4%, and he’s never shot above 31.7%. Viral videos of him hitting corner threes in warm ups raised expectations, but in-game results haven’t matched. This gap fuels criticism, though his mid range improvement suggests he’s prioritising more impactful areas.
• Free Throws: His free-throw percentage (61.7% in 2024–25) remains a weak point. While he’s worked on his rhythm and mechanics, consistency lags, amplifying perceptions of stagnation.
• Expectations: As a two-time MVP, Giannis faces sky-high expectations. Fans want trans formative leaps, like adding a reliable jump shot, but his dominance in other areas (driving, defence, play making) means incremental gains are less noticeable.

Factors Limiting Perceived Improvement

Several factors contribute to the narrative of stagnation:

1. Summer Balance: Giannis’s summers involve international play, philanthropy, and family, which may limit dedicated skill work compared to players who focus solely on training. Yet, these activities enhance his leadership and mental resilience, which are harder to quantify.
2. Peak Performance: At 30, Giannis is possibly past his prime. Dramatic improvements are harder to achieve when you’re already among the NBA’s best. More importantly it seems that when it counts, most teams can counter Giannis even with a single defender on him.

Giannis Antetokounmpo’s training with Hakeem Olajuwon in 2023 generated buzz due to Olajuwon’s legendary status as a post-up maestro and Giannis’s expressed desire to refine his game. However this is a rare exception, Giannis doesn’t mingle with stars and seems socially unable to blend with them in order to learn. Olajuwon wasn’t really an exception:

1. Short Duration of Training:
   The training session was brief, likely spanning just a few days. Skill development, especially for complex post moves like Olajuwon’s “Dream Shake,” requires extensive repetition and practice over weeks or months to integrate into a player’s game. Even for an elite athlete like Giannis, a short session might provide insights but not enough time to master new techniques.
2. Giannis’s Existing Playstyle:
   Giannis’s dominance relies on his athleticism, speed, and ability to drive to the rim, often overpowering defenders. His post game, while effective, isn’t his primary weapon, and he excels in transition and face-up situations. Olajuwon’s expertise lies in low-post footwork and finesse, which may not align seamlessly with Giannis’s natural strengths. Adapting to a more finesse-based post game could require a significant shift in approach, which might not have been practical or prioritized.
3. Limited Application in Game Context:
   Even if Giannis learned specific moves, incorporating them into NBA games is challenging. Defenses often scheme to neutralize Giannis by building “walls” to limit his drives, and his post-up opportunities are sometimes secondary. His struggles with mid-range floaters (27.9% from floater range in 2022-23) suggest a need for broader scoring versatility, but Olajuwon’s training focused on post moves, which may not address this specific weakness.
4. Expectations vs. Reality:
   The hype around the training session, fueled by Giannis’s comments on the “48 Minutes” podcast and Olajuwon’s track record with players like Kobe Bryant and LeBron James, set lofty expectations. However, not all players see immediate transformations from such sessions. For example, Gilbert Arenas criticized the effectiveness of Olajuwon’s training, arguing that players like LeBron didn’t visibly adopt Olajuwon’s moves despite training with him. This suggests that the impact of such sessions can be overstated.
5. Lack of Visible Evidence:
   While Giannis showed a post move resembling Olajuwon’s style in a preseason game against the Lakers, there’s little evidence of consistent incorporation into his regular-season play. Social media discussions, like those on Reddit, noted that Giannis’s footwork didn’t markedly improve, and some argued that Olajuwon’s fluid, coordinated style is hard for bigger, less agile players to replicate. The absence of standout post-up highlights or statistical improvements in post scoring could contribute to the perception of “no results.”
6. External Criticism and Context:
   Gilbert Arenas’s vocal skepticism, claiming Olajuwon’s $50,000 sessions were a “cash grab” and ineffective for modern players, may have shaped public perception. While Arenas’s critique is controversial, it highlights a broader debate about the value of short, high-profile training camps versus long-term skill work. Additionally, Olajuwon’s praise for Giannis’s work ethic suggests the session was productive in intent, but intent doesn’t always translate to on-court results.

Conclusion: The lack of “real results” likely stems from the brief nature of the training, the mismatch between Olajuwon’s finesse-based post game and Giannis’s athletic, power-driven style, and the difficulty of integrating new skills under NBA game pressure. High expectations and external critiques, like Arenas’s, further amplified the perception of underwhelming outcomes. While the session may have offered Giannis valuable lessons, translating them into consistent, observable improvements would require sustained practice and a shift in his playing style, neither of which seemed to fully materialize in the 2023-24 season.

Why Giannis’s Approach doesn’t work

Giannis’s summer activities reflect a holistic approach to growth. International competition sharpens his leadership and adaptability. Philanthropy and family time recharge him mentally, crucial for a player under constant pressure. His training targets specific weaknesses (mid range, passing) while maintaining his strengths (athleticism, defence). His large hands and unconventional form require extensive refinement, and he faces constant defensive pressure that limits clean looks. His physical gifts are a double-edged sword. They’re so overwhelming that he can often dominate without needing a polished outside game, reducing the urgency to overhaul his style. Also, mastering new skills under NBA scrutiny is challenging when you’re already a two-time MVP. Playoff defenses are more sophisticated, and Giannis is often double- or triple-teamed. Developing counters (e.g., consistent shooting, advanced play making) takes time, especially when opponents tailor entire game plans to stop him.

Giannis Antetokounmpo’s summers are a blend of hard work, global representation, and personal balance. As Giannis navigates trade rumours and playoff pressures, his commitment to evolving—on his terms—ensures he’ll remain a force for years to come. He seems unable to understand how to improve his game in any significant way. Possibly he thinks he is good enough as he is. Maybe he thinks his style of game works and is self deluded in terms of evaluating just how little he really impacts games that matter. His regular season stats and personal achievements seem to be enough for his fans, his team and most of the NBA media. So why change?