Alex Antetokounmpo, the youngest member of the Antetokounmpo basketball family, is currently on a two-way contract with the Milwaukee Bucks, having spent previous seasons developing in the NBA’s G League and overseas. While his career is still in its early stages, his unique athletic profile and family name have kept him in the spotlight. However, the influence of nepotism on his NBA pathway and the Bucks’ roster construction continues to provoke discussion and criticism.
Player Profile and Physical Attributes
Standing at 2.03 meters (about 6’7″) with a wingspan reportedly reaching 7’2”, Alex is an athletic combo forward. His background includes experience in both European leagues (Aris Thessaloniki) and NBA G League teams, such as the Wisconsin Herd and Raptors 905. He’s known for his physical tools, competitive drive, and the potential to fill multiple forward roles on the floor.
Strengths
Athleticism and Length: Alex’s physical attributes—elite length, solid leaping ability, and good size for a wing—make him a versatile defender and potential transition weapon.
Energy and Hustle: He plays with effort, often making positive hustle plays, chasing rebounds, and disrupting passing lanes with deflections.
Open Floor Play: He’s particularly effective in transition and filling lanes for fast breaks, running the floor well and drawing fouls.
Passing Vision and Rebounding: Alex has shown flashes as a ballhandler with decent passing instincts, and he’s a strong offensive rebounder for his position.
Weaknesses
Raw Skillset: While his athleticism is undeniable, Alex is regarded as a raw prospect. He does several things at a decent level but doesn’t yet excel in any specific area.
Shooting Consistency: His shooting mechanics and shot selection are inconsistent, resulting in below-average percentages, especially from three-point range. His feet orientation and repetitive shooting form need significant work.
Ball Handling: He remains turnover-prone, with loose ball-handling, especially under pressure or when forced to use his left hand.
Decision Making: Tends to make questionable decisions with the ball, telegraphing passes or choosing poor moments for aggressive plays.
Defensive Awareness: Despite physical tools, he sometimes struggles with defensive rotations, help defense, and maintaining focus.
Statistical Snapshot (G League Averages):
Season
Team
MPG
PPG
RPG
APG
FG%
3P%
FT%
2023-24
Wisconsin Herd
21.2
5.7
2.9
0.6
32.0
19.6
71.4
2022-23
Wisconsin Herd
22.3
5.8
3.1
0.8
37.2
24.7
55.9
Career
18.6
5.0
2.6
0.6
36.7
24.7
63.3
NBA Potential
Despite his potential upside, Alex currently projects as a fringe rotation player—his ceiling will depend on significant development in skill areas and decision-making. Scouts note he could become a switchable defender and secondary playmaker with 3-and-D value, but this requires improvement in perimeter shooting, ball security, and on-ball defense.
Nepotism and Its Impact on the Bucks
The Antetokounmpo family connection undeniably influences roster decisions. Giannis’s status as the franchise centerpiece has led the Bucks to extend opportunities to his brothers, including Thanasis and Alex, often at the expense of more competitive or developmental roster spots. High-profile commentators have called out this nepotism, suggesting it undermines meritocratic team building and can create resentment or frustration among teammates striving for opportunities on talent alone.
Limited Roster Spots: Two-way and end-of-bench positions are valuable for developing young talent. Allocating these to family members primarily for off-court harmony or star retention can stunt the growth of other prospects.
Locker Room Dynamics: Nepotism may strain relationships if players feel roles aren’t earned, potentially affecting locker room morale and on-court chemistry.
Team Performance: While strengthening Giannis’s ties to Milwaukee may have intangible benefits, it can impair overall competitiveness if the roster isn’t built purely on merit.youtube
So what’s the point?
Alex Antetokounmpo’s NBA journey is emblematic of both the opportunities and controversies created by family ties in pro sports. He embodies raw physical talent and hustle but lacks a specialized skill set at the moment. For now, his presence on the Bucks is less a product of exceptional on-court impact than of Giannis’s influence, and ongoing nepotism risks diminishing the franchise’s talent pipeline and fairness in player development.
The real problem is Giannis. A 30 year old adult claiming he needs his brothers around to perform? Are we all serious?
There really is not that much to go on so here are all my sources for this post.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, even after over a decade in the league has certain aspects of his game stubbornly underdeveloped. These weaknesses—ranging from inconsistent shooting to poor screening and defensive lapses—can be traced back to his unconventional entry into basketball. Unlike many NBA stars who honed their skills from childhood, Giannis didn’t start playing organized basketball until he was around 13 years old, first touching a basketball at that age and beginning professional play in Greece at 16. This late start meant he missed out on years of foundational training, where muscle memory for technical skills like shooting form, screen-setting technique, and quick decision-making is typically built. Instead, Giannis has relied heavily on his extraordinary physical gifts—length, speed, and power—to compensate, but these gaps persist, affecting both his individual performance and the Milwaukee Bucks’ team dynamics.
Struggles at the Charity Stripe and Beyond: The Shooting Woes
One of the most glaring and persistent issues in Giannis’ arsenal is his shooting, particularly from the free-throw line and long range. Despite years of practice and tweaks to his routine, his career free-throw percentage hovers at a mediocre 69.3%, dipping to 61.7% in recent seasons. This isn’t just a minor flaw; it’s a strategic vulnerability that opponents exploit, especially in playoffs, by fouling him intentionally to disrupt drives and force him to the line. Insiders have pointed out that if Giannis could convert at a higher rate—given he leads the league in free-throw attempts—he’d likely have more MVP trophies, as it would naturally boost his scoring average without additional shots.
Beyond free throws, his overall shooting profile reveals deficiencies. He’s historically struggled with three-pointers and mid-range shots, posting some of the lowest field-goal percentages in the league in these areas during playoffs. While recent developments show improvement in mid-range efficiency (hitting 54.5% over stretches and ranking second league-wide in certain periods), his form lacks the fluidity of players who drilled jumpers from a young age. And of course he has no mid range when it matters in the playoffs or harder regular season games. This ties directly to his late start: Shooting is a skill rooted in repetition and mechanics developed early. Without that foundation, Giannis’ attempts often look mechanical or forced, relying on power rather than touch. In half-court sets, defenses sag off him, daring him to shoot, which clogs driving lanes and limits his effectiveness as a playmaker.
The Art of the Pick: Why Giannis Can’t Set Effective Screens
Screen-setting might seem like a basic team skill, but for Giannis, it’s a glaring weakness that hampers the Bucks’ offense. Analysts describe his screens as “ghost screens”—half-hearted efforts where he doesn’t establish a solid base, sets them too high, or angles them poorly, allowing defenders to slip through easily. With his massive 7-foot, 253-pound frame, he should be a screening powerhouse, but instead, he often prioritizes rolling to the rim for his own scoring opportunities, leading to shoddy execution. Statistically, this shows: He averages just over two screen assists per game, generating only five points, and the Bucks rank near the bottom in off-screen efficiency at 0.5 points per possession.
This flaw is particularly damaging in pick-and-roll heavy schemes with stars like Damian Lillard, where effective screens create space for pull-ups or drives. Without them, the offense stagnates, forcing isolation plays. Again, the late start explains this: Screening requires precise footwork, body positioning, and timing—fundamentals drilled in youth leagues. Giannis, who jumped straight into high-level play without that base, treats it as an afterthought, leaning on his athleticism to dominate individually rather than synergize with teammates.
Giannis’ screening IQ is obviously something that can’t magically appear. He doesn’t understand angles at the most fundamental level. He also doesn’t understand
Defensive Reactions: Elite Talent with Occasional Lapses
Giannis is a defensive monster—his length and instincts earned him DPOY honors—but he isn’t flawless. Critics note he struggles with quick reactions in certain scenarios, like chasing guards around screens or maintaining off-ball awareness. He can “fall asleep” off the ball, failing to rotate promptly or box out, which leads to easy rebounds or cuts for opponents. While his help defense is elite, perimeter switching exposes slower lateral quickness against shifty guards, and his reactions in complex schemes can lag.
This isn’t about effort but ingrained habits. Starting basketball late meant less exposure to defensive drills that build anticipation and reaction speed. Players like Kawhi Leonard or Draymond Green, who started young, have that intuitive read-and-react ability honed over years. For Giannis, defense is more reactive to his physical tools than proactive fundamentals, making him vulnerable in playoff matchups where teams scheme to isolate these gaps.
Passing and Decision-Making: The Half-Court Hurdles
Giannis’ passing is another area where limitations shine through. While he averages solid assists, he’s not a “great passer,” as opponents like Alperen Sengun have exploited by collapsing the paint and forcing him into tough decisions. In half-court sets, he struggles with quick reads, often over-dribbling (sometimes for 14 seconds) or opting for isolation shots instead of hitting open teammates. This contributes to the Bucks’ low rankings in passes and assists, turning a potential juggernaut into a predictable unit.
Tied to his late start, decision-making under pressure requires basketball IQ built from countless reps in varied scenarios. Without early immersion, Giannis defaults to his strengths—driving or pulling up—rather than orchestrating like a true point forward.
Ball-Handling, Counter Moves, and Other Bad Habits
Giannis’ handle lacks creativity, making him predictable when trapped. He
doesn’t have a wide array of counter moves, often resorting to the same Euro-step or spin without variation. Bad habits compound this: fascination with inefficient isolation mid-rangers or dribble-up threes, poor off-ball movement, and inconsistent boxing out. These stem from relying on physical dominance rather than refined skills, a byproduct of skipping foundational years.
The Cost of a Late Bloom and Paths Forward
Giannis’ weaknesses aren’t from lack of effort—he’s worked tirelessly to improve. But starting at 13 meant building a skyscraper on a shallow foundation; the cracks show in technical areas requiring early muscle memory. For the Bucks to contend, Giannis must evolve beyond isolation heroics, embracing team play like better screens and quicker passes. At 30, there’s still time, but these lingering issues remind us: Even freaks of nature have human origins.
In the NBA’s endless hypothetical superteam debates, few pairings spark as much intrigue as Giannis Antetokounmpo and Stephen Curry. On paper, the Greek Freak’s athletic dominance combined with Curry’s unparalleled shooting seems like a recipe for dynasty-level success. But dig deeper, and the fit starts to unravel. Giannis’s playing style—dominated by ball possession, physical drives, and limited off-ball contributions—clashes with Curry’s need for fluid motion, elite screening, and quick decision-making.
The Screening Issue: Giannis’s Weakness Undermines Curry’s Greatest Strength
Stephen Curry’s game revolves around off-ball movement and using screens to create space for his lethal three-point shooting. He’s thrived with screen-setters like Draymond Green, who not only set solid picks but also read defenses, slip when needed, and facilitate from the short roll. Giannis, however, is notoriously poor at this fundamental big-man skill, often prioritizing his own scoring over team play.
Observers have noted that Giannis tends to set screens too high or fails to establish a solid base, allowing defenders to slip around easily and disrupt the play. In pick-and-roll situations, he frequently slips the screen prematurely to hunt mismatches in the post, demanding the ball instead of creating opportunities for others. This self-focused approach was critiqued in analyses of his role with the Bucks, where even fans and analysts questioned his commitment to screening as a key offensive tool. For Curry, who relies on screens to generate 40% of his shots (per NBA tracking data), this would be disastrous. Without reliable picks, defenses could switch or hedge more aggressively on Curry, stifling his rhythm and forcing him into contested looks. Giannis’s athleticism might help in transition, but in half-court sets—where Curry does his damage—his screening lapses would turn the offense stagnant.
Social media echoes this sentiment, with recent discussions highlighting Giannis’s bad screening as a persistent flaw that hampers guard-big synergies. In a system like Golden State’s, where screening is an art form, Giannis’s habits would clash, leaving Curry isolated and underutilized.
Ball Dominance: Giannis’s Hogging Habits Would Starve Curry’s Off-Ball Brilliance
Giannis is one of the league’s highest-usage players, often controlling the ball for extended possessions to bulldoze to the rim. This “ball hog” label isn’t new—it’s been thrown at him in high-profile feuds, like with James Harden, who implied Giannis’s style lacks passing nuance. Stats back it up: Giannis’s usage rate hovers around 33-35%, meaning he touches the ball on a massive portion of possessions, often leading to iso-heavy play. Critics argue this pads his stats but doesn’t elevate teammates as effectively as true facilitators.
Curry, conversely, excels off the ball, using gravity to warp defenses even without possession. Pairing him with Giannis would force Curry into a spot-up role more often, diminishing his playmaking (he averaged 6.5 assists in 2024-25). Recent Bucks games highlighted this issue: when Giannis dominated the ball, teammates like Damian Lillard saw reduced touches, leading to frustration and inefficiency. On X (formerly Twitter), users frequently call out Giannis’s hogging, with posts noting how it led to losses despite his gaudy lines. In a Curry-led offense, this possessiveness would create tension, as Steph’s motion-based system demands quick ball movement—not prolonged dribble drives.
Clutch-Time Reliability: Giannis Falters When It Matters Most
Curry is synonymous with clutch performance, hitting game-winners and thriving under pressure with a career 43% three-point shooting in clutch situations. Giannis? His clutch stats tell a mixed story at best, often marred by poor free-throw shooting and decision-making. In 2024-25, he shot just 68.8% from the line in clutch minutes, missing key opportunities. Overall clutch efficiency ranks him mid-tier among stars, with a +15.1 net rating but inconsistent scoring (3.6 PPG in clutch games).
Critics point to playoff meltdowns, like the 2023 first-round exit where his free-throw woes (notably in clutch spots) contributed to the Bucks’ collapse. On X, discussions label him “not clutch,” citing games where he deferred or bricked in crunch time. For a duo with Curry, who’d draw double-teams late, Giannis’s unreliability—especially from the stripe—could cost championships. Defenses would foul him intentionally, turning potential wins into free-throw lotteries.
The Core Problem: Giannis’s Basketball IQ and Reaction Speed Don’t Fit Advanced Schemes
Most damning is Giannis’s perceived low basketball IQ, slow processing, and struggles with complex plays—traits that would torpedo a partnership with Curry’s cerebral, read-and-react style. Gilbert Arenas famously questioned Giannis’s smarts, asking if he’s “smarter than LeBron James or Stephen Curry” and arguing his success stems from athleticism, not intellect. Videos and analyses highlight players doubting his IQ, noting he relies on raw power over nuanced reads.
Reddit threads debate this, with many concluding he’s not “high IQ” despite stats. His reaction time in half-court offenses is slower, often leading to forced drives rather than exploiting mismatches creatively. Curry’s Warriors run intricate sets with split actions, back screens, and rapid decisions—Giannis’s inability to “think or react fast” would bog it down. Even his passing, while improved (7.3 APG in 2024), is critiqued as basic, not elite like Jokic’s or LeBron’s. In advanced plays, he’d struggle to adapt, turning a dynamic offense into a predictable one.
Hypothetical analyses of a Giannis-Curry pairing acknowledge the gravitational pull but warn of stylistic clashes. While some see it as “unfair” dominance, others note Giannis’s limitations would hinder Curry’s freedom.
A Superteam That Sounds Better Than It Plays
Giannis Antetokounmpo is a force of nature, but his screening deficiencies, ball-hogging, clutch inconsistencies, and limited IQ make him a poor fit for Stephen Curry’s ecosystem. Curry needs space creators and quick thinkers; Giannis provides brute force but at the cost of flow. In a league where chemistry trumps talent alone, this duo would frustrate more than dominate. Better to keep them apart—let Giannis bulldoze in Milwaukee, and Curry dance in the Bay. Real skills matter and Giannis simply hasn’t developed them at all. If anything he is getting worse (at ft% and 3pt% for sure.) As usual, Bucks (and Golden State) fans are talking as if the NBA is a video game.
In the ever-evolving drama of the NBA, few stories capture the tension between player power and organizational loyalty quite like the recent saga involving Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks. On October 8, 2025, the two-time MVP made headlines with comments that hinted at a potential exit from Milwaukee if the team doesn’t contend for a championship this season. “Right now, my focus is on the Bucks,” Giannis said, “but it’s human nature to change your mind if things don’t go as planned.” These words, amid swirling trade rumors linking him to the New York Knicks—especially after their blockbuster acquisition of Karl-Anthony Towns—sparked immediate backlash.
Enter NBA legend Charles Barkley, who didn’t mince words during an appearance on ESPN. Barkley lambasted Giannis for what he perceives as entitlement, stating, “These guys, they feel like they’re entitled to play for the championship every year. … Everybody wants to win a championship, but the Bucks have done everything they possibly could.” Barkley’s critique resonates deeply, not just because of his Hall of Fame credentials, but because it highlights a stark reality: the Bucks have bent over backward to build a contender around Giannis, often at great cost to their future. In this blog post, we’ll dive into why Barkley is spot-on and why Giannis’s stance comes across as ungrateful, given the franchise’s extraordinary efforts.
The Bucks’ Investment in an Unknown Prospect
Let’s rewind to 2013. The Milwaukee Bucks, a small-market team often overshadowed in the NBA landscape, took a gamble on a lanky, relatively unknown teenager from Greece in the NBA Draft. Selected 15th overall, Giannis Antetokounmpo was far from a sure thing—raw talent with immense potential but little polish. The Bucks didn’t just draft him; they invested years in his development. Through dedicated coaching, strength training, and on-court opportunities, they transformed him from a skinny prospect into the “Greek Freak,” a dominant force who would go on to win two MVP awards, a Defensive Player of the Year honor, and lead the team to glory.
This patience and belief paid off spectacularly in 2021 when Giannis delivered a championship to Milwaukee, ending a 50-year drought. His 50-point masterpiece in the Finals closeout game earned him MVP honors, cementing his legacy. But the Bucks’ commitment didn’t start or end there—it was a foundational bet on his future that no other team might have made.
All-In Moves: Trades, Contracts, and Coaching Changes
Barkley’s point about the Bucks doing “everything they possibly could” isn’t hyperbole; it’s backed by a series of bold, franchise-altering decisions. In 2020, sensing the need for a defensive anchor to complement Giannis, Milwaukee traded Eric Bledsoe, George Hill, and multiple first-round picks to acquire Jrue Holiday. This move was pivotal, directly contributing to the 2021 title run.
Post-championship, the Bucks rewarded Giannis with a five-year, $228 million supermax extension in December 2020, securing his services and signaling their long-term vision. When the team hit a rough patch, they didn’t hesitate to shake things up. In May 2023, they fired championship-winning coach Mike Budenholzer after a first-round playoff exit to the Miami Heat. They hired Adrian Griffin in June 2023, only to dismiss him mid-season despite a 30-13 record, replacing him with Doc Rivers—moves that aligned with Giannis’s preferences for change.
The Bucks went even further in September 2023, trading Jrue Holiday, Grayson Allen, and more picks to Portland for Damian Lillard, pairing Giannis with another superstar guard in a desperate bid to reignite contention. This trade mortgaged their draft capital through 2031, leaving the team with limited flexibility. As Barkley noted, “The Bucks have done everything they can.”
Entering the 2025-26 season, Milwaukee continued their all-in approach. They signed Myles Turner to a four-year, $107 million deal in July 2025, adding rim protection to bolster the frontcourt alongside Giannis. Free-agent additions like Gary Trent Jr., Taurean Prince, and Delon Wright deepened the roster, pushing the payroll over $170 million and deep into the luxury tax’s second apron. These aren’t half-measures; they’re sacrifices that have capped the team’s future options, all to maximize Giannis’s prime.
Even on a personal level, the Bucks have shown loyalty by keeping Giannis’s brother, Thanasis Antetokounmpo, on the roster since 2019. Despite his limited on-court impact, this provides family stability—a rare perk in the cutthroat NBA.
Injuries, Not Incompetence: The Real Culprit Behind Recent Struggles
Giannis’s hints at departure ignore a crucial factor: injuries, not front-office failures, have been the primary roadblock. In the 2024 playoffs, his absence due to injury contributed to a first-round loss to the Indiana Pacers. The Bucks’ core has been plagued by health issues, but the organization has responded by rebuilding the roster aggressively. As Barkley emphasized, “I want someone to love me as much as the Bucks love Giannis.”
In contrast to Barkley’s era, where stars like him endured years with underperforming teams without demanding trades (though Barkley himself requested one from the 76ers in the early ’90s for similar reasons), modern players expect perennial contention. But Milwaukee has delivered far beyond what’s typical for a small-market franchise. Ownership even changed hands in 2014 to fund arena upgrades and retain Giannis, demonstrating a commitment to infrastructure and stability.
The Entitlement Factor: Forgetting Roots and Undermining Loyalty
Giannis’s comments smack of entitlement because they overlook his origins. Without the Bucks’ faith and resources, he might not have evolved into the superstar he is today. He publicly praised the organization’s efforts in 2021, vowing loyalty, but his recent waffling undermines that narrative. Expecting annual titles ignores the NBA’s increasing parity, with powerhouse Eastern Conference rivals like the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers.
Barkley’s frustration is echoed across the league and media. As one analyst put it, “The Bucks have given Giannis everything he wanted—they traded a ton for Jrue, for Dame, and now put themselves in cap hell.” Giannis’s stance feels ungrateful, especially when compared to players who stuck it out in tougher situations. The Bucks aren’t a dysfunctional franchise; they’re a model of player-centric building, and Barkley’s call-out serves as a reminder that loyalty should be a two-way street.
Time for Gratitude, Not Exit Threats
Charles Barkley isn’t just stirring the pot—he’s highlighting a fundamental truth about the NBA’s player-empowerment era. The Milwaukee Bucks have exhausted every avenue to build around Giannis Antetokounmpo, from draft investments and blockbuster trades to coaching overhauls and massive contracts. In return, veiled threats of departure come across as entitled and ungrateful, especially from a player who owes much of his success to the franchise’s unwavering support.
As the 2025-26 season unfolds, Giannis has a chance to repay that loyalty with performance and commitment. But if Barkley’s words ring true, perhaps it’s time for the Greek Freak to reflect on how far the Bucks have carried him—and how much further they could go together. In a league where rings are the ultimate goal, true greatness also involves appreciating the journey and the team that made it possible.
In the high-stakes world of the NBA, superstar players like Giannis Antetokounmpo hold immense leverage, especially when their contracts include player options. As the 2025-26 season tips off, whispers about the Greek Freak’s future with the Milwaukee Bucks are growing louder amid trade rumors and questions about the team’s championship viability. While Giannis can’t walk away immediately after this season, his contract structure sets him up for unrestricted free agency as early as the summer of 2027 – at the end of the 2026-27 season. Once he declines his player option, the Bucks will have zero recourse to keep him. Let’s break down the rules, his contract details, and why Milwaukee is essentially at his mercy.
Giannis’s Contract: A Timeline of Security and Flexibility
Giannis has been a Buck since 2013, rising from a raw rookie to a two-time MVP and 2021 NBA champion. His loyalty has been rewarded with massive extensions, but the latest one – signed in October 2023 – gives him an exit ramp that’s hard for the front office to block.
The current deal is a three-year, $175 million maximum veteran extension that kicked in for the 2025-26 season. Here’s the breakdown:
2025-26: $54.1 million (guaranteed).
2026-27: $58.5 million (guaranteed).
2027-28: $62.8 million (player option).
The first two years are fully guaranteed, meaning Giannis is locked in through the end of the 2026-27 season. But the third year? That’s where his power shines. The player option for 2027-28 allows Giannis (or his representatives) to decide by June 29, 2027, whether to exercise it and stay with Milwaukee for one more year at that salary. If he declines – opting out – he hits unrestricted free agency (UFA) in the summer of 2027, free to sign with any team of his choosing.
This isn’t some obscure loophole; it’s a standard feature in NBA supermax contracts for stars like Giannis, who qualify under the Designated Veteran Player rules. These extensions allow teams to pay above the salary cap but often include player-friendly terms like options to maintain flexibility in a league where careers are short and contention windows narrow.
Prior to this extension, Giannis was already under a five-year, $228 million deal from 2020 that carried him through 2025-26, but the new extension superseded the final year for cap purposes. The Bucks front office, led by GM Jon Horst, structured it this way to keep their star happy while navigating the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) restrictions, including the over-36 rule (Giannis turns 33 in 2027, so no over-38 issues yet). But by building in the player option, they’ve handed Giannis the keys to his own destiny.
NBA Rules on Player Options and Free Agency: The Bucks’ Hands Are Tied
To understand why the Bucks can’t stop Giannis from leaving, we need to dive into the NBA’s free agency rules under the current CBA.
A player option is a contractual clause that gives the player – not the team – the unilateral right to decide whether to fulfill the final year(s) of the deal. If exercised, Giannis would play out 2027-28 in Milwaukee. But if he opts out, that year vanishes, and he becomes an unrestricted free agent. As a UFA, any NBA team can negotiate and sign him without restrictions – no qualifying offers, no right of first refusal, nothing. The Bucks’ Bird Rights (which allow over-the-cap re-signings) wouldn’t apply if he opts out and signs elsewhere; they’d only help if he stays or returns later.
Contrast this with restricted free agency, where teams can match offers. Player options like Giannis’s bypass that entirely. The CBA explicitly prohibits contracts from including clauses that limit a player’s free agency after the option period, ensuring stars can chase rings or bigger paydays elsewhere.
Moreover, Giannis doesn’t have a no-trade clause in this extension, meaning the Bucks could theoretically trade him before the opt-out deadline without his consent. But if Giannis wants to play out his guaranteed years and then bolt via free agency, Milwaukee has no leverage. They can’t force him to exercise the option, extend early (he’s eligible for a four-year, $275 million extension starting October 2026, but only if he stays), or block his departure.
In practice, this creates massive trade leverage for Giannis even before 2027. After the 2025-26 season, with just one guaranteed year left, his value skyrockets for contending teams. The Bucks would face a “trade now or lose for nothing” dilemma – a scenario that’s played out with stars like Kevin Durant and James Harden. Recent reports indicate Giannis is already exploring options, with interest from teams like the Knicks, and the Bucks are bracing for potential mid-season drama if results falter.
Why Now? The Bucks’ Window Closing and Giannis’s Leverage
Giannis has repeatedly affirmed his commitment to Milwaukee, saying he’s “locked in” but leaving the door open for change if the team doesn’t contend. The Bucks have surrounded him with talent like Damian Lillard and recent additions, but back-to-back early playoff exits have fueled doubts. At 30 years old (turning 31 in December 2025), Giannis knows his prime won’t last forever. Opting out in 2027 could net him a new supermax elsewhere – potentially over $300 million – with a contender.
For the Bucks, the nightmare is losing their franchise cornerstone for nothing. They can’t poison-pill his contract or use opt-out protections because the CBA doesn’t allow it. Their only plays are winning big this and next season to convince him to extend early or trading him on his terms to recoup assets.
The Bottom Line: Player Power in the Modern NBA
Giannis Antetokounmpo’s player option embodies the shift toward player empowerment in the NBA. By the end of the 2026-27 season, if he chooses to walk, the Bucks are spectators – unable to match offers, extend forcibly, or retain rights. It’s a stark reminder that even loyal stars like the Greek Freak prioritize championships over sentiment. As trade rumors swirl into the 2025-26 season, Milwaukee must deliver, or risk watching their MVP depart on his own terms.
If Giannis Antetokounmpo declines his player option, he would be able to leave the Milwaukee Bucks and become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2027, immediately after the conclusion of the 2026-27 NBA season. His current contract guarantees him two more years, covering the 2025-26 and 2026-27 seasons, with a player option for the 2027-28 season—which he can choose whether or not to accept. If he opts out, the earliest possible departure is July 2027. What is most likely? At the end of this (failed again) Bucks’ season, they try to trade him for as much talent and draft capital they can. Giannis has no choice. But at the end of that second season he returns to Greece.
While Giannis Antetokounmpo has indeed struggled with consistent playoff success, with six first-round exits in his ten playoff appearances (60% first-round exit rate) , a few more top 100 NBA players of all time have actually had worse or comparable playoff failures relative to their talent and expectations.
Karl Malone – Often ranked in the top 15-20 all-time
Karl Malone holds the unfortunate record for most playoff games (193) without winning a championship. Despite being a two-time MVP and reaching two Finals, he suffered multiple devastating losses:
Lost both Finals appearances to Michael Jordan’s Bulls (1997, 1998)
Had significant playoff efficiency drops compared to regular season performance
His transition-heavy style was less effective against disciplined playoff defenses
Charles Barkley – Universally considered top 20-25 all-time
Barkley had a worse playoff series record than Giannis, going 12-13 in playoff series throughout his career :
Only one Finals appearance (1993 loss to Bulls)
Eight first-round exits, compared to Giannis’s six
Career playoff record of 62-61, barely above .500
Steve Nash – Two-time MVP, often ranked 30-40 all-time
Nash never reached an NBA Finals despite his elite regular season success :cbc+1
Played 120 career playoff games without a championship
Series record of 11-12 in the playoffs
Multiple devastating playoff exits with Phoenix despite having superior teamsyoutubecbc
Reggie Miller – Hall of Famer, top 50-75 all-time
Miller’s playoff record was remarkably similar to current Giannis :
Series record of 14-15 in 29 playoff series
Eight first-round exits throughout career
Only one Finals appearance (2000 loss to Lakers)
Played 144 playoff games without winning a championship
Patrick Ewing – Top 50 player, #1 draft pick with championship expectations
Despite being the centerpiece of multiple strong Knicks teams, Ewing never won a championship :
Went 0-5 against Michael Jordan’s Bulls in playoff matchups
139 career playoff games without a title
Known for several crucial playoff failures, including the infamous missed finger-roll
Players with Similar or Slightly Better Records
Chris Paul – Top 75 player, “Point God”
Paul has had numerous devastating playoff collapses :
Record holder for most blown 2-0 playoff leads (4)
Series record barely above .500 at 72-68 overall
Only advanced past the second round twice in 13 playoff appearances
Eight first-round exits in his career
James Harden – Former MVP, top 75 player
Despite regular season excellence, Harden has underperformed in crucial playoff moments :
Multiple playoff collapses, including the infamous 2018 Western Conference Finals
Known for poor elimination game performances
Only one Finals appearance (2012 with OKC as sixth man)
Recent Struggles in Context
Giannis’s recent struggles three consecutive first-round exits from 2023-2025 are concerning. But while Giannis’s six first-round exits in ten appearances represent genuine playoff struggles, at least 5-7 other top 100 players had worse or comparable playoff failures relative to their talent and expectations. Players like Karl Malone, Charles Barkley, Steve Nash, Reggie Miller, and Patrick Ewing all had more devastating playoff careers when accounting for their lack of championships and multiple crushing defeats.
Why Giannis Struggles in the Playoffs: A Comprehensive Analysis
Giannis Antetokounmpo isn’t inherently “bad” in the playoffs—he still puts up impressive individual numbers—but he faces specific, exploitable weaknesses that championship-level teams have learned to target systematically. His playoff struggles stem from a combination of technical limitations, strategic vulnerabilities, and psychological factors that become magnified under postseason pressure.
The Primary Weaknesses
Free Throw Shooting: The Fatal Flaw
Giannis’s most glaring weakness is his free throw shooting, which deteriorates significantly in the playoffs :
Career playoff free throw percentage: 62% compared to 69.3% in regular season
Recent playoff performance: As low as 57% in some series
Strategic impact: Teams deliberately foul him late in games, knowing he’s likely to miss
His excessively long free throw routine (15-20 seconds per shot) creates mental pressure and allows fans to affect his concentration. The routine lacks fluidity and doesn’t mirror his actual shooting motion, making it essentially “not a basketball act”.
The “Giannis Wall” Strategy
Since 2019, teams have deployed a devastating defensive scheme called “The Wall” that has consistently neutralized his dominance :
How it works:
Three defenders collapse on Giannis when he drives, forming a “wall”
Two additional defenders stay back to contest his kick-out passes
Forces him into difficult shots or turnovers
Historical success against Giannis:
2019 Raptors: Pioneered the strategy, won series 4-2
2020 Heat: Perfected it, dominated series 4-1
2022 Celtics: Used effectively despite losing 4-3
2023-2025: Multiple teams continue using variations successfully
Three-Point Shooting Vulnerability
Teams actively encourage Giannis to shoot three-pointers, knowing it plays away from his strengths :
Recent playoff 3PT%: 25-27%, well below league average
Strategic exploitation: Defenses sag off him, daring him to shoot
Shot selection issues: Takes contested threes instead of driving when teams expect it
Psychological and Tactical Factors
Pressure and Decision-Making
Giannis struggles with decision-making when facing intense playoff pressure :
Turnover increase: Higher turnover rate in playoffs, especially against walls
Forcing shots: Tends to force drives into set defenses rather than making correct passes
Takes it personally: Admits he gets emotional when facing “The Wall” strategy
Supporting Cast Dependency
Unlike other superstars, Giannis requires exceptional supporting cast performance to succeed :
2021 championship context: Won with injured opponents (Nets’ Big 3, Lakers’ stars)
Recent struggles: When Middleton, Holiday, or Lillard struggle, Bucks lose
Role player reliance: Needs shooters to make open shots when he passes out of walls
Screen Setting Deficiency
An underrated weakness that affects team offense :
Poor technique: Sets “ghost screens” that don’t create real advantages
Low efficiency: Only 30th percentile as pick-and-roll roll man
Impact on teammates: Limits Damian Lillard’s effectiveness in pick-and-roll
Why These Weaknesses Are Magnified in Playoffs
Preparation Time
Playoff teams have extensive time to study and prepare specific schemes :
Regular season success doesn’t translate when teams gameplan specifically for him
Coaches like Nick Nurse, Erik Spoelstra excel at exploiting these weaknesses systematically
Defensive Intensity and Focus
Playoff defenses are more disciplined and committed to executing complex schemes :
Teams willing to sacrifice individual defense to build effective walls
Better communication and rotation on defensive schemes
More physical play that disrupts his rhythm
Clutch Moments and Mental Pressure
High-stakes situations expose his technical limitations :
Free throw struggles become magnified in close games
Increased pressure affects decision-making under duress
The Championship Exception: 2021
Giannis’s 2021 championship run succeeded because of unique circumstances :
Opponent injuries: Brooklyn’s Big 3 were injured, Lakers eliminated early
Supporting cast peak: Middleton and Holiday played at their highest level
Health: Giannis overcame his own knee injury to deliver historic Finals performance
Giannis isn’t “bad” in the playoffs—he’s a victim of solvable basketball problems that he hasn’t adequately addressed. His combination of free throw struggles, three-point shooting deficiencies, and vulnerability to sophisticated defensive schemes creates a blueprint that disciplined playoff teams can exploit. Unlike transcendent playoff performers who elevate their games under pressure, Giannis’s technical limitations become more pronounced when facing elite, prepared defenses with months to gameplan specifically for his weaknesses.
In the whirlwind world of the NBA, where superstars chase championships and global endorsements, few stories tug at the heartstrings quite like Giannis Antetokounmpo’s. The man they call the Greek Freak—born in Athens to Nigerian immigrant parents, risen from street-hustling kid to two-time MVP and NBA champion—has always worn his roots on his sleeve. But today, a new chapter unfolds that’s less about highlight reels and more about family foundations: Giannis’ wife, Mariah Riddlesprigger, and their four young children have officially settled permanently in Athens, Greece. Their sons have even started kindergarten at the prestigious Athens College, marking a bold pivot toward the homeland that shaped him.
This isn’t just a seasonal relocation; it’s a seismic shift for a family that’s called Milwaukee home since Giannis was drafted in 2013. As the Bucks gear up for another title run, Giannis faces his first NBA season separated from his loved ones. What does this mean for the 30-year-old phenom? Could it fuel his fire on the court, or add an emotional weight to his already Herculean load? Or is he preparing for a return to Greece soon?
## A Family Forged in Adversity: Giannis’ Journey from Sepolia Streets to NBA Stardom
To understand the significance of this move, we need to rewind to Giannis’ origins. Born Giannis Sina Ugo Antetokounmpo on December 6, 1994, in Athens’ gritty Sepolia neighborhood, he grew up stateless for years—his parents, Charles and Veronica, had fled Nigeria in the early 1990s seeking better opportunities, only to face poverty and discrimination in Greece. The family scraped by selling watches and handbags on the streets, with young Giannis and his brothers (Thanasis, Kostas, and Alex) pitching in to keep food on the table.
Basketball became their escape. Scouted by local coach Spiros Velliniatis at age 13, Giannis’ raw athleticism— that impossible blend of 6’11” frame, speed, and power—propelled him from Filathlitikos’ youth teams to the NBA in a meteoric rise. By 2013, he was in Milwaukee, dragging his family across the Atlantic for a shot at the American Dream. Today, three of the four brothers play professionally in the NBA, and their AntetokounBros Academy in Athens offers free training to underprivileged kids, echoing the support they once received.
Enter Mariah Riddlesprigger, a philanthropist and former college volleyball star whom Giannis met in Milwaukee. The couple, who married in a lavish summer 2024 ceremony after welcoming three children, have built a life centered on quiet joys amid the spotlight. Their kids—Liam Charles (born February 10, 2020), Maverick Shai (August 18, 2021), Eva Brooke (September 14, 2023), and the newest addition, Aria Capri (born around June 2025)—represent the next generation of Antetokounmpos. Rarely seen in public, they’ve been fixtures at Bucks games and family milestones, like the 2022 premiere of Disney+’s *Rise*, the film chronicling their immigrant saga.
Giannis has always been vocal about fatherhood’s pull. In interviews, he’s said he’d retire on the spot if Liam asked for more playtime, underscoring how family anchors his relentless drive. Now, with the kids’ early years in flux, the pull of Greece feels inevitable.
## The Move: From Milwaukee Winters to Athenian Sunsets
Whispers of a Greek return have swirled for years—Giannis bought a sprawling, futuristic apartment complex in the upscale Paleo Psychiko suburb of Athens back in 2023 for an estimated €10 million ($11 million), complete with units for his mother and brothers. But this summer, it became reality. As of September 2025, Mariah and the four children have made the transatlantic leap permanent, trading Milwaukee’s chilly, humid climate (where even July highs rarely top 26°C/79°F) for Athens’ Mediterranean warmth.
The kids’ integration is already underway. Five-year-old Liam and four-year-old Maverick kicked off the school year at Athens College, one of Greece’s most elite institutions, known for its rigorous bilingual curriculum and alumni like shipping magnates and politicians. It’s no accident; Giannis, ever the planner, chose it to give his sons “only the best” from their formative years. Two-year-old Eva and four-month-old Aria are settling into the family rhythm, with the household buzzing in a quiet neighborhood where passersby remain blissfully unaware of their famous residents.
This isn’t a trial run. Sources close to the family confirm it’s a multi-year commitment, with Giannis commuting between continents during the offseason and, presumably, holidays. The Bucks star returned to Milwaukee practice just days ago, but the separation marks uncharted territory for a man who’s thrived on stability.
## Why Now? Roots, Climate, and a Vision for the Future
So, what sparked this bold step? It’s a cocktail of personal, cultural, and practical factors. Foremost: Mariah’s preference. When Giannis polled her on Milwaukee versus Athens, she chose the Greek capital without hesitation, citing the vibrant community, milder weather, and cultural richness. “Greece suits us better,” insiders note, a sentiment echoed in Giannis’ own long-held dreams of returning home.
Giannis has been candid about his love for Athens. In a July 2025 interview, he declared, “I’m definitely thinking of coming to Greece permanently when I retire… Athens is my home.” His tears after captaining Greece to a bronze at EuroBasket 2025—the country’s first medal since 2009—spoke volumes about his emotional tether. The move aligns with his vision: exposing his kids to their heritage, fluent Greek lessons, and summers on sun-drenched islands, all while nurturing the AntetokounBros legacy through local philanthropy.
Practically, it’s savvy. With business ventures blooming in Greece (from real estate to the family’s academy), and rumors of a post-NBA stint with Filathlitikos—the club that launched him—rooting the family there streamlines logistics. Unlike LeBron James, whom he admires, Giannis has hinted he’s not chasing a 40-year-old career; he wants to peak now and pivot sooner, perhaps ending his playing days in the Hellenic League.
## The Ripple Effects: Emotional Turbulence, On-Court Fuel, and Long-Term Legacy
No sugarcoating it: this separation could test Giannis like never before. For the first time, he’ll lace up for Bucks games without his family’s courtside cheers or post-practice cuddles. “It will not be easy,” those in his circle admit, especially with a newborn at home. The 8-hour time difference and grueling travel—private jets notwithstanding—could amplify the isolation of NBA life, potentially stirring anxiety or homesickness. We’ve seen stars like Kevin Durant grapple with similar family strains; for Giannis, whose identity is so intertwined with family, it might manifest as restless energy or, worse, distraction.
Yet, there’s profound upside. Psychologically, knowing his kids are immersed in their cultural bedrock could lighten his load, freeing mental bandwidth for the court. Imagine the motivation: every dunk a dedication to providing that “best” education, every assist a step toward a post-retirement life unmarred by regret. History shows fatherhood sharpens focus—post-Liam’s birth, Giannis averaged 29.5 points in the 2020-21 championship run. This move might supercharge that, turning transatlantic longing into unbreakable resolve.
On the family front, it’s a win for stability. Milwaukee’s transient NBA scene pales against Athens’ extended-family vibe, where Veronica can dote on grandkids and the brothers collaborate on ventures. For the children, it’s a bilingual, multicultural upbringing—Greek summers, American holidays—that mirrors Giannis’ own hybrid identity, fostering resilience they’ll need in a global world.
Career-wise, it signals maturity. At 30, with a supermax extension through 2028, Giannis is eyeing legacy beyond rings. Settling his family in Greece positions him as a bridge-builder: the immigrant kid who returns to uplift, not just extract. It could extend his prime by reducing burnout, and if whispers of an Athens NBA expansion hold water, who knows? The Greek Freak might one day headline a Euro league.
Of course, risks linger. If the Bucks falter or injuries mount (recall his 2023 knee scare), the pull of home might accelerate retirement talks. And logistically? Balancing Daddy duty with 82 games demands ninja-level scheduling.
## Closing the Circle: A Freakish Return to Roots
Giannis Antetokounmpo’s family move to Athens isn’t an ending—it’s a homecoming that closes the circle on a life story scripted in struggle and stardom. From Sepolia’s shadows to Milwaukee’s spotlight, he’s always chased wholeness: for himself, his brothers, his parents, and now his children. This decision, though laced with sacrifice, underscores his core value—family above all.
As the season tips off, watch for that extra gear in Giannis’ game. It might just be the fuel to chase another ring, knowing his little freaks are thriving where it all began. In a league of mercenaries, the Greek Freak remains gloriously grounded. And in doing so, he reminds us: true greatness isn’t measured in trophies alone, but in the homes we build across oceans.
Personally I think it will be a convenient excuse. When he fails again this year to achieve anything in the post season he will use his family as an excuse to justify playing in Europe with a Greek team. And all he has said over the years about loyalty to the Bucks and the place that has been home all these years will go out the window…
*Sources: Proto Thema English, New Greek TV, People Magazine, Greek Reporter, Hellenic Daily News.*
Anyway you look at this shot chart it is truly pathetic:
Giannis missed open lay ups against a team that had nobody to guard him. He was playing on his own most of the time and still missed them. And what about this famous mid range? Even with no defence
he got nothing. Don’t even start me with the three points. Sure, you have to keep trying and an easy game like this may be a good opportunity but this is simply ludicrous.
Somehow everyone still treats him like the hero though!
His box score isn’t really much better. 50% field goal percentage, 0% from three and his usual terrible free throw shooting.
And people still chant MVP???? As usual he had the ball in his hand more than anyone despite not playing more minutes. This is terrible any way you slice it yet Bucks’ fans are ecstatic.
Giannis finished with 26 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists, shooting 9-of-18 from the field in 33 minutes. On the surface, those numbers scream dominance, but dig deeper, and the cracks show. His scoring output, while solid, was inefficient for a player of his caliber against a Hawks defense that ranks among the league’s worst, allowing 119.6 points per game. Going 9-for-18—barely over 50%—is underwhelming when you consider Giannis’s season field goal percentage hovers around 60.5%. Against a team struggling to stop anyone in the paint, he should’ve been feasting, not settling for a pedestrian 52.9% shooting night. He left points on the table, and for a Bucks squad aiming to assert dominance in the East, that’s a red flag.
Then there’s the rebounding. Τhe Bucks got crushed on the glass early, especially in the second quarter when Atlanta flipped a deficit into a lead with a 17-9 run fueled by second-chance opportunities. Giannis, with his size and athleticism, should’ve owned the boards against a Hawks frontcourt missing key pieces like Jalen Johnson and Clint Capela. Instead, he let Brook Lopez (13 rebounds) carry the load, which is fine for team ball but exposes a lack of assertiveness from the superstar in a game where Milwaukee’s interior presence should’ve been overwhelming.
The Bucks’ offense stalled late, tied at 121 with just over a minute left, and Giannis’s decision-making faltered. He had a dunk attempt blocked by Atlanta’s Garrison Gueye, leading to a Caris LeVert three that knotted the score. That’s not just a defensive miscue by the Hawks—it’s a failure by Giannis to finish strong or adjust to the help defense. A player of his experience should’ve either powered through or kicked it out to an open shooter like Damian Lillard (23 points) instead of forcing a play that got stuffed. The Bucks won thanks to clutch plays from Lopez and Lillard, not because Giannis took control when it mattered most.
Defensively, Giannis was solid but not suffocating. Trae Young dropped 28 points and 13 assists, carving up Milwaukee’s defense with ease at times. Giannis, often touted as a Defensive Player of the Year candidate, didn’t disrupt Young enough to throw Atlanta’s offense off track. The Hawks shot 48.9% from the field and stayed in the game far longer than they should’ve against a Bucks team with a top-tier defensive rating. Giannis’s presence in the paint deterred some drives, but his impact felt muted against a guard-heavy attack that he’s capable of shutting down when fully locked in.
Finally, the minutes restriction—capped at around 32-33 minutes due to a lingering calf strain—might explain some of this, but it doesn’t excuse it entirely. If Giannis is on the floor, he’s expected to dominate, not coast. The Bucks needed this win to stay sharp in a tight Eastern Conference race, and while they got it, Giannis’s performance was more workmanlike than transcendent. Against a depleted Hawks team on the second night of a back-to-back, this should’ve been a blowout, not a four-point squeaker. Giannis got the stat line, but he didn’t impose his will the way a two-time MVP should, leaving fans and analysts alike wondering why he didn’t bury Atlanta when he had the chance.
Khris Middleton and Giannis Antetokounmpo thrived together because their skills complemented each other perfectly on the court, creating a dynamic partnership that fueled the Milwaukee Bucks’ success. Middleton’s versatility as a scorer, particularly his ability to shoot from outside and handle the ball, paired seamlessly with Giannis’s dominance inside and relentless drives to the basket. While Giannis drew defensive attention with his physicality and playmaking, Middleton capitalized on the space created, knocking down jumpers or making smart plays in clutch moments. Their chemistry wasn’t just about stats—it was built on trust and Khris’ willingness to sacrifice for the team.
Over their 12 years together, they developed an intuitive understanding, often seen in how Giannis would find Middleton for open looks or how Middleton could steady the offense when Giannis faced heavy pressure. Middleton’s calm, methodical style balanced Giannis’s explosive energy, making them a tough duo to defend. Their bond grew from early battles for minutes into a partnership that delivered a championship in 2021, with Middleton’s 40-point Finals game showcasing how important he was for the team. (Giannis’ 50 point performance was secondary, the series had already been decided.) Injuries and time might’ve limited their peak, but their on-court fit was a big reason they clicked so well.
Let’s break down why Khris Middleton and Giannis Antetokounmpo worked so well together by digging deeper into their on-court synergy, individual skill sets, statistical impact, and the evolution of their partnership with the Milwaukee Bucks.
Complementary Skill Sets
Giannis is a force of nature—6’11”, with a freakish blend of speed, power, and length. His game thrives on attacking the rim, where he’s averaged double-digit free-throw attempts in multiple seasons (e.g., 10.3 per game in 2020-21) and consistently posted field-goal percentages above 55% by living in the paint. Defenses often collapse on him, especially in the half-court, using walls or double-teams to limit his drives. That’s where Middleton’s skill set becomes the perfect counterpunch.
Middleton, at 6’7”, is a polished wing with a smooth mid-range game and reliable three-point shooting (career 38.8% from deep). Unlike Giannis, whose outside shot has been a work in progress (29.2% career from three…and falling fast this season), Middleton excels at spacing the floor. Defenders can’t sag off him, which prevents them from clogging the lane entirely against Giannis. Middleton’s ability to score off the catch or create his own shot—averaging around 20 points per game in their prime years together—gave the Bucks a secondary option who could punish teams for overcommitting to Giannis. Think of games like Game 4 of the 2021 Finals: Middleton dropped 40 points, including 10 in the fourth, while Giannis still drew the defense’s focus.
What has changed since then? Well , the league now knows Giannis is a one trick pony and often just one determined defender can neutralize him when it counts. But Giannis is more of a ball hog than ever, more focused on stat padding and less of a team player than ever.
Pick-and-Roll and Off-Ball Dynamics
Their two-man game was lethal, especially in pick-and-roll or hand-off situations. Giannis often acted as the screener or roller, using his size and athleticism to either dive to the rim or pop out for a pass. Have you see just how badly he screens for Dame? It is a joke, Giannis is now measureably one of the worse screeners in the NBA.
Middleton’s ball-handling (averaging 4-5 assists per game in peak seasons) and decision-making let him exploit the chaos Giannis caused. If the defense switched, Middleton could isolate smaller guards with his post-up game (he’s sneaky good at this, with a 1.05 points-per-possession efficiency in the post per Synergy data from past seasons). If they doubled Giannis, Middleton relocated for open threes or attacked closeouts with his underrated first step. What has changed? Giannis simply can’t cause the same amount of chaos. Dame gets a last second terrible desperation pass most of the time.
Off the ball, Giannis’s gravity used to pull defenders inward, while Middleton’s movement kept offenses honest. Middleton wasn’t a standstill shooter—he’d cut, flare, or use off-ball screens to find gaps. Their 2020-21 title run showed this: Giannis’s usage rate hovered around 32%, yet Middleton’s true shooting percentage stayed above 57%, proving he thrived without needing the ball constantly.
Statistical Symbiosis
Lineup data backs up their impact. In the 2020-21 season, Bucks lineups with both Giannis and Middleton on the floor outscored opponents by 8.7 points per 100 possessions, per NBA.com stats. Their net rating together often topped the team’s overall mark, reflecting how they amplified each other. Middleton’s presence boosted Giannis’s assist numbers—Giannis averaged 5-6 assists in their best years, with many going to Middleton on kick-outs or dump-offs. Conversely, Giannis’s rim pressure inflated Middleton’s effective field-goal percentage, as he feasted on cleaner looks.
Clutch Chemistry
In high-stakes moments, their trust shone brightest. Middleton’s ice-cold demeanor paired with Giannis’s ferocity gave Milwaukee a dual-threat late-game attack. Look at the 2021 playoffs: Middleton averaged 23.6 points on 43.8% shooting, stepping up when Giannis faced injury (like in the Nets series) or foul trouble. Middleton’s buzzer-beater in Game 1 vs. Miami, we all know he will deliver when it matters.
Evolution and Fit
Their partnership wasn’t instant. Middleton arrived in 2013 via trade from Detroit, a year before Giannis was drafted. Early on, they competed for touches under Jason Kidd, with Middleton as the steadier scorer and Giannis the raw prospect. As Giannis blossomed into an MVP (2019, 2020), Middleton adapted, ceding the spotlight while refining his role as the Robin to Giannis’s Batman. Coach Mike Budenholzer’s system—emphasizing pace, space, and Giannis as a point-forward—unlocked their potential. Middleton’s willingness to play off Giannis, rather than demand equal usage, cemented their fit.
But this is not a Doc Rivers mistake. He is doing the best he can with Giannis and carefully studied the way the Greek national team coach – Spanoullis- used him in the Olympics for ideas. He tries to keep Giannis out in the fourth quarter as much as possible. But you can’t teach a low IQ player like Giannis new tricks.
Intangibles
Beyond stats, their personalities meshed. Giannis’s relentless drive paired with Middleton’s quiet confidence created a yin-yang dynamic. They shared a work ethic—Middleton grinding from a second-round pick to All-Star, Giannis from a skinny unknown to MVP—and a team-first mindset. Post-game interviews often showed mutual respect, like Giannis calling Middleton “the head of the snake” after big nights. That bond held through injuries (Middleton’s knee issues, Giannis’s ankle scares) and carried them to the 2021 title.
In short, Khris played so well with Giannis because their games were puzzle pieces—Middleton’s finesse filled the gaps in Giannis’s brute-force style, and their trust turned individual brilliance into a championship formula. But Giannis changed. As it became apparent that the ring winning was a fluke he became poisoned by his own hype machine. The MVP chants in the Bucks’ arena went to his head. He truly believed he was the only one carrying the team even though in fact, he is the reason they lose.
To make it worse the fans turned on Khris, only increasing the pressure. Placing more emphasis on regular season games and only seeing Giannis points/rebounds/assists because that is what the Bucks’ marketing team kept promoting. Giannis the superhero. And this is where it got them. A dead end.
Damian Lillard’s performance dipping when Giannis Antetokounmpo is on the floor isn’t a straightforward “he’s worse” situation—it’s more about fit, usage, and how their games mesh (or don’t) on the Milwaukee Bucks as of February 26, 2025. Lillard joined the Bucks in 2023 to pair with Giannis, forming a superstar duo. Yeah, remember Giannis shouting about “winning it the right way” and not wanting to be part of a superteam? Well the on-court results have shown some serious lack of basketball IQ on Giannis’ part. Let’s break down why Lillard’s numbers and impact tend to take a hit when sharing the court with Giannis, based on stats, playstyle clashes, and team context.
We all know that Dame was Giannis’ choice. As was losing Jrue. As was trading Khris. So let’s take a closer look at the first of these three wrong decisions.
First, look at the numbers this season. Lillard’s averaging 25.8 points, 7.2 assists, and 4.5 rebounds overall, with a 42.9% field goal percentage and 35.8% from three. But in lineups with Giannis, his scoring drops slightly—per NBA advanced stats, Lillard’s usage rate falls from 31.2% when Giannis is off to around 27% when they’re together. Giannis, a ball-dominant force (32.7 points, 11.7 rebounds, 6.2 assists), commands the offense with a 33.8% usage rate. Both thrive with the ball in their hands—Lillard as a pick-and-roll maestro, Giannis as a freight train in transition and the paint. (And I am not using the term “freight train” in a positive way here. He misses way too many at the rim, waaay too many free throws and he ruins the flow by playing like that. )
When they share the floor, Lillard often cedes primary creation duties, shifting to more off-ball roles like spot-up shooting, which isn’t his natural strength. Let’s re think that, eh? The experienced ball handler cedes to the forward that leads in travelling and other violations…
Their playstyles amplify this. Lillard’s elite skill is his deep-range shooting and ability to break down defenses in isolation or pick-and-roll sets—he’s historically taken 30+ footers and orchestrated late-game possessions. Giannis, meanwhile, clogs the paint and excels driving downhill, but his lack of a reliable jumper (20% from three this year) lets defenses sag off him, shrinking the floor. Opponents build a “wall” against Giannis, packing the lane, which can cramp Lillard’s driving lanes and force him into contested mid-range shots or kickouts. Cleaning the Glass data shows the Bucks’ offensive rating drops to 114.2 with both on, compared to 117.8 with Lillard alone—suggesting less efficiency together.
Spacing is a big culprit. Giannis’s presence draws double-teams inside, but without consistent outside shooting from him, defenses don’t respect the Bucks’ perimeter as much. Lillard’s three-point attempts per game are down to 8.2 this season from 10.5 in his last Portland year, and his catch-and-shoot opportunities haven’t fully clicked—his effective field goal percentage on threes dips from 58% solo to 54% with Giannis, per Second Spectrum tracking. Milwaukee’s supporting cast (like Brook Lopez or Khris Middleton) helps, but the lack of synergy between the stars leaves Lillard less room to operate his preferred game.
Defensively, it’s not a huge factor, but it’s worth noting. Lillard, at 6’2” and 34 years old, isn’t a lockdown guy—he’s targeted in switches, averaging 0.7 steals but often a step slow. Pairing them means opponents attack Lillard, pulling Giannis into help situations that can disrupt their rhythm. This doesn’t directly make Lillard “worse” offensively, but it tires him out, potentially sapping his scoring punch.
Then there’s the adjustment factor. In Portland, Lillard was the unquestioned alpha, running 35-40 minutes of heliocentric offense. With Giannis, he’s adapting to a co-star role under coach Doc Rivers, who leans heavily on Giannis’s physicality. It is hard not to emphasize the hole that the Bucks have dug themselves into by promoting Giannis as the ultimate MVP player all the time. The pressure on Dame is unfair and constant from day one.
Lillard’s assist numbers creep up with Giannis (7.5 vs. 6.8 without), showing he’s facilitating more, but his scoring efficiency takes a hit—true shooting percentage drops from 60.1% solo to 57.8% together. He’s less comfortable deferring or playing second fiddle, especially when Giannis’s freight-train drives don’t always set up Lillard’s preferred catch-and-shoot looks. All too often Giannis simply gets caught up in traffic and makes a bad desperation pass with no clock left and every opponent 100% certain that Dame has to take that shot.
Contrast this with Giannis’s prior pairing with Khris Middleton, a better spacer (38.5% from three this year) who complemented Giannis by stretching defenses without needing the ball as much. Lillard’s ball-dominant style overlaps with Giannis’s, and neither is a natural off-ball mover like a Steph Curry. Fans often point this out—some argue Lillard looks “lost” or “disengaged” when Giannis dominates, a sentiment echoed in games like their February 25 loss to Houston, where Lillard shot 5-for-14 with Giannis on.
It’s not that Lillard’s inherently worse with Giannis—it’s that their strengths haven’t fully synced. Lillard’s at his best creating in space; Giannis consumes space. Until the Bucks tweak their scheme—more stagger minutes, better spacing lineups, or Lillard embracing off-ball movement—the numbers and eye test suggest he’s less effective in this tandem than he could be alone.
For me the biggest problem is how everyone treats Dame. As if Giannis is too sacred to criticise. It is always Dame’s fault if the Bucks lose. This is inaccurate and unfair. Dame has regretted being traded for sure as he is wasting his last good years on a team that clearly cannot work with a Giannis who lacks the IQ to change.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is one of the NBA’s most well known and loved players, but he’s had too many moments in big games where mistakes impacted the Milwaukee Bucks’ chances of winning. Pinpointing specific errors that definitively “cost” a game can be tricky—basketball is a team sport, and outcomes often hinge on collective performance—but there are notable instances in crucial matchups where Giannis’s decisions or miscues played a significant role in a Bucks loss. I did a different blog post with the stats (check it out here) but I thought I should remind you all of some stand out dumb plays which are characteristic.
Tonight was a characteristic example. With the Bucks down 104-103 and 30 seconds left, Giannis fouled Alperen Sengun in the backcourt—an unnecessary play given the situation. Sengun made both free throws, pushing the lead to three, and Houston held on to win 106-103. Giannis had 34 points and 14 rebounds, but that low-IQ foul shifted the game’s outcome, as the Bucks couldn’t recover. It was a pivotal mistake, reflecting fan frustration with his decision-making in crunch time. Because he does it all the time.
One glaring example comes from the 2023 playoffs, Game 5 of the Eastern Conference First Round against the Miami Heat. The Bucks, up 3-1 in the series, lost 128-126 in overtime at home, getting eliminated by the 8th-seeded Heat. Giannis struggled at the free-throw line, going 10-for-23 for the game. In the clutch, with the Bucks down by two in the final seconds of regulation, he missed two free throws that could have tied it up. Miami’s Jimmy Butler then forced OT with a buzzer-beater. Giannis finished with 38 points and 20 rebounds, but those misses—especially given his season-long 64.5% free-throw shooting—shifted momentum and left the Bucks vulnerable. The Heat sealed the upset, and Giannis’s free-throw woes were a key talking point.
Another instance is from the 2020 Eastern Conference Semifinals, Game 4 against the Heat. The Bucks were down 2-1 in the series, and this game was pivotal to avoid a 3-1 hole. Late in the fourth quarter, with the score tight, Giannis committed an offensive foul by charging into a defender while driving to the basket. He finished with 19 points before exiting early due to an ankle injury, but that foul—his fifth—sapped Milwaukee’s momentum at a critical juncture. The Heat won 115-104, taking a commanding series lead. Miami’s defensive scheme, often called the “wall,” baited Giannis into physical drives, and his decision to barrel through rather than pass or pull up was a costly misjudgment. The Bucks lost the series in five.
In the 2019 Eastern Conference Finals, Game 4 versus the Toronto Raptors, Giannis’s play contributed to a turning point in the series. Milwaukee led 2-1, but Toronto stormed back to win 120-102. Giannis scored 12 points on 5-for-16 shooting and fouled out with over seven minutes left after picking up his sixth foul on a questionable defensive reach. His absence down the stretch let Toronto pull away. He also turned the ball over seven times, including sloppy passes under pressure from Kawhi Leonard and the Raptors’ swarming defense. The Bucks dropped the next two games, and the series slipped away. Giannis’s inability to stay disciplined and on the floor was a factor in squandering their lead.
Finally, in the 2021 NBA Finals, Game 5 against the Phoenix Suns—while the Bucks ultimately won the title—Giannis nearly cost them a crucial win. Up 3-1 in the series, Milwaukee led 108-107 with under a minute left. Giannis, guarding Devin Booker, overcommitted on a pump fake, fouling Booker and sending him to the line. Booker made both free throws, giving Phoenix a 109-108 lead. Giannis redeemed himself with a block on Deandre Ayton seconds later, preserving a 123-119 victory, but that defensive lapse could’ve swung the game and the series momentum. It’s a rare Finals example where his error didn’t fully cost them, but it teetered on the edge.
These moments—free-throw misses, offensive fouls, turnovers, and poor defensive decisions—showcase recurring themes in Giannis’s game: occasional recklessness driving to the rim, struggles with free throws in clutch spots, and lapses in discipline under pressure. Context matters—teammate injuries, coaching decisions, and opponents’ brilliance (like Butler’s 2023 heroics)—also shaped these outcomes. Most Bucks’ fans use them to excuse Giannis. But in these high-stakes games, Giannis’s miscues were the real difference-makers.
Everyone acts as if he is improving. He isn’t. If anything the difference between what Giannis thinks he can do and reality now has an even bigger gap. Doc Rivers knows and tries to keep him out. But he still finds a way to mess up high pressure games.
Here is his box score
Yeah, as usual. Basically only stat padding defensive rebounds. As usual the wasted 3 point attempt. And particularly bad shooting.
Grok3 has an interesting and very valid summary of stuff I have been writing about elsewhere regarding Giannis in the playoffs:
“Limited Outside Shooting: Giannis isn’t a consistent threat from beyond the arc. His three-point shooting has improved over the years, but it’s still not elite (career 28.6% as of the 2023-24 season). Defenses often sag off him, daring him to shoot from deep.
Free-Throw Struggles: His free-throw percentage hovers around 70% (career 70.2% through 2023-24), which is decent but not great for a star player. In high-pressure situations, like the playoffs, this can be a liability—teams may exploit it with intentional fouls.
Reliance on Physicality: Giannis thrives on his size, strength, and athleticism to dominate drives and finishes at the rim. If he faces physical defenses or loses a step as he ages, his effectiveness could dip unless he diversifies his game further.
Playmaking Limitations: While he’s a solid passer for a big man (career 5.0 assists per game), he’s not a primary ball-handler or elite playmaker like LeBron James or Nikola Jokić. His assist numbers often come from straightforward reads rather than complex orchestration.
Post Game Needs Refinement: Despite his size (6’11”), Giannis doesn’t have a polished low-post game with a variety of moves. He relies more on power and quickness than finesse or footwork in the paint.
Defensive Versatility Has Limits: He’s an elite defender—capable of guarding 1 through 5 in spurts and a former Defensive Player of the Year (2019-20)—but he’s not always lockdown against smaller, quicker guards or sharpshooting wings due to his size.
Predictable Drives: Giannis often attacks the basket with a head-down, euro-step-heavy style. Savvy defenses (e.g., the “Wall” strategy used by the Raptors in 2019) can clog the paint and force him to kick out or take tougher shots.
Injury Concerns: His aggressive, physical style has led to occasional injuries, like knee and ankle issues. While he’s generally durable, his long-term health could be a question as he enters his 30s (he turned 30 in December 2024).”
It is interesting how Grok also takes issue with a matter most choose to disregard when evaluating Giannis. And that is his massive performance drop off in high pressure situations. Here is what Grok says:
“Giannis Antetokounmpo’s playoff performance has been a mixed bag, and it’s a hot topic among fans and analysts. While he’s undeniably a regular-season juggernaut—two MVPs and a Defensive Player of the Year award—his postseason play has drawn criticism for not always matching that dominance. Let’s break it down based on how he’s performed and the recurring knocks against him in the playoffs.
One big critique is his efficiency—or lack thereof—when the stakes get higher. Take the 2022 Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Celtics: Giannis put up monster stats (33.9 points, 14.7 rebounds, 7.1 assists per game), but his shooting splits were rough—49.1% from the field and 67.9% from the free-throw line. He became the first player to notch 200 points, 100 rebounds, and 50 assists in a single series, yet the Bucks lost in seven games. Critics point to his 45.7% field goal percentage in that series (down from his regular-season norm) and argue he was more of a volume scorer than an efficient one, especially with Khris Middleton sidelined.
Then there’s the free-throw issue. Giannis has never been a sharpshooter from the line, and it’s bitten him in the playoffs. In the 2023 first-round upset against the Heat, he shot 15-for-23 (65.2%) in the two games he played before a back injury knocked him out. Miami exploited this, and the Bucks crashed out as the No. 1 seed. His career playoff free-throw percentage sits at 66.2% (through 2023-24), compared to 70.2% in the regular season—small drop, big moments.
His style of play also gets exposed when teams build a “wall” to stop his drives. The 2019 Raptors famously used this tactic in the Eastern Conference Finals, holding Giannis to 41.5% shooting and 12.3 points per game in the final four games (all losses after a 2-0 lead). Similarly, the Heat in 2020 limited his impact, and Miami took that series 4-1. Defenses collapse on him, and without a reliable jumper—he’s at 27.6% from three in the playoffs career-wise—he can struggle to create space or punish teams from outside.
Injuries have also played a role, though not entirely his fault. He missed most of the 2023 Heat series with a bruised back and sat out the entire 2024 first-round loss to the Pacers with a calf strain. The Bucks went 0-5 in playoff games he’s played since May 11, 2022 (Game 5 vs. Boston), fueling the narrative that he’s faltering when it counts. Without him, Milwaukee actually won 3 of 8 in those stretches, which raises questions about team construction as much as his play.
So, does he play “badly” in the playoffs? When he’s off, it’s magnified—shooting dips, turnovers spike (4.0 per game career playoff average), and teams dare him to beat them from deep or the line. “
After more than a decade in the NBA, the AI makes valid points. Giannis once reached the ring and failed terribly every other year.
Is Giannis requesting a trade? Will he be goat? Will he win another ring? This is what people are asking Google. But then they also seem to very often ask “is Giannis injured” and “will he be playing tonight?”
The Warriors have often been suggested as a potential trade target for Giannis. This reflects in Google searches. But not in reality.
People love to play the “what if” game, imagining some sort of ultra team which would include their favorite players. Here is why Giannis will stay with the Warriors forever though:
He has said so many times. This is the weakest of arguments. He may well be saying one thing officially but simultaneously allowing rumours to spread.
He has made a big thing in the past about not joining ‘superteams’. Again he has backpedalled on this one, getting Lillard for starters. So doesn’t seem very valid.
The Bucks have no incentive to make a trade. Why on earth would they ever allow it? So essentially he would have to ask for it. After all he has said about loving it there and the people and the city etc. Again, this is possible.
So the commonly used reasons are weak. Here are the more realistic problems with Giannis going to another NBA team:
4. He would have to pick a championship contender. Which current championship contender would even be able to combine Giannis in their roster though? Nobody! Here are the current bookie favourites for 2024-25 NBA Championship Odds:
5. Giannis can’t play that kind of ball! Celtics, Thunder, Cavaliers, Nuggets rely on fast moving, extremely technical tactical basketball. Giannis knows one kind of game, the one where he brings the ball down and tries to dunk. They don’t need that, they don’t want that, he could not possibly fit with any of those teams. He lacks the speed of thought and the ability to understand advanced plays and basketball systems.
6. Other teams would have to trade everything to get him. If the Knicks wanted him for example, they would essentially swap their existing super stars to get him. So the Bucks would become like the Knicks (currently 3d in the East) and the Knicks would be…well nothing. At best 5th in the East like the Bucks are now. So what is the point?
7. The way Giannis has been promoted these past years has greatly reduced the trade value of all other players on the Bucks. Even Dame would likely not get much anymore because everyone was too busy blaming him since he came to the Bucks. So forget any interesting joint trade package. The Bucks have no chips to sit at the table with.
8. Giannis is a seriously limited player, incompatible with the way the game is now played. He is one of the worse ball screeners, he doesn’t understand angles, he has the worse 3point shot in the history of the NBA, his free throws are getting worse, he is terrible in clutch situations. In essence a dinosaur. Don’t be fooled by the stat padding, the truth appears in the playoffs and harder matchups. He suddenly has no mid range and looks lost if his one trick pony approach doesn’t work.
9. He seems to like the narrative of being a sole hero on a useless team. So why not continue? Everyone at the Bucks will treat him like a gracious hero and loyal player. He can pretend it was his choice to stay. He can smash various franchise records with the help of a team designed around him.
10. He has an easy and obvious out. Returning to Greece to play with one of the Euroleague contenders. By then he can claim some old injury if he fails there too. But again he will be treated like a returning here in Greece.
So rejoice Bucks fans! Looks like Giannis will stay in Milwaukee for a long time yet!
The Wizards were bottom of the league before they traded away all their assets.
They have hardly won any match this season. And looking at Giannis box score I would say the only positive thing on it is a zero. Zero threes thankfully from the worse 3point shooter in the history of the NBA. But other than that, truly pathetic:
6 fouls, pretty stupid fouls in fact. 54.5% from the free throw line, a category he is also getting worse at all the time. 7 turnovers. All this against the worse team in the NBA. Coming back from an injury is not even related. It doesn’t affect your free throw shooting. And – unless it was a mental disease – it shouldn’t affect when you decide to foul.
He missed twice by the rim which isn’t that rare. What is rare was that he was on the wrong side of the rim! We all know he can only score on the right. So why was he on the left? Hell, he even took a shot from the left! This is how few shots he has taken this season on the left:
Giannis just justified the post about him being nowhere near MVP caliber. He also showed how biased the media is always rooting for him as a terrible performance like tonight’s would be all over social media if it concerned any other ‘superstar’.
78 journalists had him as their first pick. Only 23 had Harden and…that was it. Clear cut case.
He won it again the next year. Again it was only him and Lebron as top vote getters for No1 place in the MVP race. 85 journalists said it was Giannis.
And then? Then the league figured out he just simply isn’t a playoff player. Only one journalist considered him first choice MVP for the 2020-2021 season.
So when you say he is “in the MVP” race, it is an extremely loose way of using the term. The following years only a handful of journalists had him in the top position and possibly this year again maybe 2-3 at best. Whether it’s Embid…
or the Joker,
Clearly Giannis is nowhere near top of mind for most judges. Sure he gets points from the 2nd and 3d place which add up. But he is nowhere near MVP and the downhill is pretty clear.
In the position he plays it not unusual to be past his prime at his age. Furthermore he has no other skill with which to supplement his game. His 3 is getting worse (worse in the history of the NBA) and his free throws are simply appalling.
It is great that the NBA gives out all these consolation prizes. But when players believe the hype and start hogging the ball for stat padding it can clearly damage their team. For the 2024-25 season Giannis received no votes for first but nor for second!
Why not both? Well, of course someone can feel as if he belongs to multiple countries. No reason not to. And Giannis has multiple influences due to his amazing life story. But let’s hear it from him:
A great interview indeed. “A lot of people think my mom or my dad are from Greece, but no. Both of my parents are black. Both of my parents are Nigerian.”
“I grew up in a Nigerian home,” Antetokounmpo said. “Obviously, I was born in Greece and went to school in Greece. But at the end of the day when I go home, there is no Greek culture. It’s straight-up Nigerian culture. It’s about discipline, it’s about respecting your elders, having morals.”
Well that is pretty clear. In fact he throws shade on Greeks as people that don’t respect their elders and don’t have morals.
It was clear that the NBA wanted to promote into Africa using Giannis and other players.
But it didn’t work out and they retracted that whole effort. Africa is too focused on soccer. It just didn’t work. So Giannis redirected to Greece which was easier. Win win, sponsorship in both countries gallore!
Giannis confusion and lack of clarity is best described by the way he closes the interview: “There were a lot of times when I was in Greece where people said, ‘You’re not Greek. You’re Nigerian because you’re black.’ But then there have been a lot of times where it’s been the opposite, where people say, ‘You’re not African. You’re Greek. You’re ‘The Greek Freak.’ ’ But I don’t really care about that. Deep down, I know who I am and where I am from. That’s all that matters to me.”
Does it matter what Giannis feels like he is? Unless you are a racist, not really. But it does seem a bit hypocritical when he lays on the emotion for all three of his countries. Because now he is also American. That’s where he lives, that’s were he makes his money, that’s where he married and had kids.
“This is my home” and “this is my city”, right in the US of A. Again and again. A Greek politician wrote an interesting article on this topic that is worth reading in whole:
“IS GIANNIS GREEK?
The term “Greek-American”, I suppose we all know . I also assume we understand what it means: someone who is originally from Greece and lives in America. The term does not specify whether he or she was born in Greece or descended from parents, grandparents or great-grandparents who are Greek. It does not specify whether he or she speaks good Greek, goes to church every Sunday, visits Greece often, or owns property here. He does not specify where his ancestors lived in 1500 AD, 500 AD or 500 BC. He does not specify if all his ancestors were Greek or if there was a grandmother who was English, German, Irish. So, without defining the factors that shape ethnic identity, we can’t determine the percentage of Greek and American that make up John Pappas’ personality, can we? There is the 5th generation Greek-American who doesn’t even know where Greece is on the map, there is the Greek-American who left to the US to study, stayed and married there, comes back at least once a year, and keeps dreaming of returning. If the former is 5% Greek and 95% American, the latter is the reverse.
So, someone who was born to Nigerian parents in Greece and grew up, went to school, made his bones here and now has a career in America is both Nigerian to some extent, Greek to some extent, and American to some extent. At the same time. The ratio depends on many objective factors. If Giannis puts down roots in America, after 40 years “American” will greatly increase his percentages compared to “Greek” and “Nigerian”, does anyone disagree? But it also depends on a subjective: how he feels. And Giannis has told us how he feels: A Greek of Nigerian descent. Makes sense, doesn’t it? Could it be something else?
And because he has Greek nationality, he plays for the Greek national team and represents us like Mirella Maniani, Kachi Kahiasvili or Artiom Kuregian used to represent us, none of whom are natives of our country. Do we mind? I don’t mind at all. In a world without barriers, blood is stirring. George Papandreou has 37.5% Greek blood (25% from his grandfather and 12.5% from his Polish great-grandfather’s wife). But that didn’t stop him from becoming prime minister. So I can’t understand either those who launch fireworks like “Giannis is much more Greek than some people who…” or the others, on the opposite side, who resent him for wearing the national team jersey being the presumably best player in the world. And because many of them are also divine, I remind them that St. Moses, whose memory the Orthodox Church commemorates on August 28, is called “the Ethiopian” and was a currant, blacker than John. If God accepted him into the bosom of holiness (he was even a thief before he repented), why don’t you, my god, accept John into the bosom of Greek basketball?
I remember many darker players, who were cheered by the nation when they led the Greek teams and the National Team to distinctions: from the late Roy Tarpley, who had given Aris the European Cup in 1993, to Sophocles Schorsianitis, who is also blacker than Giannis. Not to mention many other legendary names of the Greek courts, basketball and football, who had no trace of Greek blood in their veins. In all the great Greek basketball teams, foreigners outnumber Greeks, but we don’t mind if they represent Piraeus, the Athens Trifylli, Thessaloniki, the Union of Constantinople. And even with annual contracts – today I am, tomorrow I am not – without speaking Greek. So if it is convincing for them to feel honoured, as Marcelo said (in English), wearing the red (green, yellow, etc.) jersey, why does it seem unconvincing that Giannis feels the same honour with the national team jersey?
There is, of course, a difference. The other players came to the country legally, not by crossing the border, as Giannis’ family did. This difference leads some to the bulletproof conclusion that those who are proud (I’m one of them) of Giannis striding half the court in three steps before he nails it are also pro-illegal immigration (I’m not one of them). Adding to the misunderstanding is the fact that the “solidarity” side uses a stupid argument: if Giannis hadn’t come to Greece, his talent would not have been showcased. So, we should let the Afro-Asian militias come in, in case some great basketball or even curling talent emerges, who knows! The reasoning is of similar wisdom to “if it hadn’t been for the Asia Minor Catastrophe, your grandfather wouldn’t have come from Ayvali, he wouldn’t have known your grandmother from Faliro, so you wouldn’t have existed.” Does that mean you owe a debt of gratitude to Kemal? Do you know how much talent is now lost somewhere in the depths of Africa?
Must all of Africa migrate to Sepolia to become known for their talents? However, we know very well how much Greek talent is leaving a country that has become a dystopian nightmare, and because of illegal immigration. If I had to weigh up the sporting, scientific, artistic, etc. talents that emerged from the mass invasion on the one hand, and the transformation of my country into a multicultural mob and Athens into Islamabad on the other, I would a thousand times rather we lost those talents, and Giannis included, and regained the Greece we had in the 1960s. Look at Omonia, Panepistimiou and Patision in movies of the era and do the comparison.
But because time does not turn back, John is a good case study. His family didn’t come to avoid war, but to find a better fortune. They tried to survive by working. Yes, by trafficking, but not by crime. They gave their four children, born here, Greek names. Yes, and Nigerian so as not to be cut off from their roots, but Greek prevailed. As Giannis he is known around the world, not as Sina Ugo. Greek Freak is his nickname, not Greek-Nigerian. That means assimilation. He didn’t go to the KNE to join the whole world’s infernos, he went to the Philathlete. He chose instead of walking up and down the Stadium protesting, he ran up and down the floor declaring – both in words and deeds – that he will try hard to escape his “fate”.
He was baptized an Orthodox Christian along with his brother Alexander, a significant Greek date: October 28 (in 2012, when he was 17 years old). The parish priest of St. Meletius was his mentor. “I don’t remember him ever complaining or feeling hurt by life and being aggressive towards society,” says the (highly regarded) Fr. Evangelos Ganas, and adds: “What I can’t forget was the look in John’s eyes. There was an innocence and a hope. There was no fear and resentment.” Certainly, a much more Christian attitude than that of the knife-wielding guardian, who, when, in his first matches with the national team, Giannis was trying to find his role, was rejoicing, along with his dark-skinned, African-faced protégé, that the national team lost but the “Nigerian” did not score a point, concluding from this that… God is Greek (and, of course, white), and apparently punished us for putting black on the team, so we lost. (I guess he saved it for us in the game against Germany, too.)
Giannis kisses the national flag, waves the Greek flag and refuses to… stain it with his signature, when his Greek-American fans ask him to do so, while some natives claim the right to burn it. He participates in films with social messages, offering his gold-plated image for free. He has charitable social work that keeps him away from the cameras. If that doesn’t show loyalty and devotion to Greece and its values, what does? So, the path of this child proves that there are, among the bereaved, those who can integrate, want to integrate and, in doing so, benefit both our society and themselves. And it makes the need to separate the wheat from the chaff even more urgent.
I don’t want to be misunderstood: for those who have already come! Our borders (and incentives) must be closed tightly for any new invaders, even if we lose new talent. I won’t mention how here, I’ve written dozens of articles on the subject, but I’ll emphasize once again that those who want to integrate show it early and in the details.
These details will determine whether they will be naturalized as Greek citizens (i.e. obedient). Because for every Yannis who wants to be Greek, there are thousands of Ahmed and Mohamad who don’t. When you give citizenship, without any criteria, to Afro-Asians, 99% Muslims, with the only condition that they have lived 4-5 years or have been born in Europe, at some point, the whole of Europe will become an Islamic caliphate, through democratic procedures. So, rightly, John did not get Greek citizenship when he was a child, even though he was born here. The same should apply to all immigrants. The concept of citizenship should also be legally separated from nationality, with the main difference being the right to vote. (Other differences could be the degree of access to social and welfare programs and to health care benefits.)
An immigrant, even if he becomes a European citizen, will not vote and, of course, will not be elected. This right will be granted, from the second generation onwards, if certain criteria are met. If they are not met, not even for great-grandchildren! Why should the 3rd descendant of a Pakistani family living in an Islamic ghetto get the right to vote, the same or worse than his grandparents? European experience (and relevant research) proves that 2nd and 3rd generation Muslim immigrants are twice as likely to be more bigoted and live more marginalized lives than the 1st generation. Why should they vote? To send Islamic parties and crypto-jihadist MPs to European parliaments?
John’s family was not Muslim. His mother dressed fashionably, she wanted to look European. She left her children free, to be kneaded into the society of their new homeland. They made Greek friends and had relationships with Greek women. They made these multi-racial but ONLY-POLITICAL couples, who I said I was happy to see living as Greeks, in a speech I gave – about the danger of Islamism – and I was attacked by the whole cesspool of uneducated patriots. Yannis’ brother Kostas is preparing, I hear, to marry one of “our” girls. Good crowns! Why not rejoice in the joy of people who loved not only Greece but also its culture, our way of life and want to live like us, here? Because their skin is dark? A little darker than Skourletis’, are we going to make an issue of it?
But there is another parameter, which I have to touch on and I leave it last: the percentage of foreign elements that are assimilated. A society has a limit of resistance to the incorporation of foreign elements. If it exceeds it, it loses its cohesion and its identity. I would not want the country to be flooded with Nigerians, even if they all had John’s intentions and good nature. Nor by Monegasques. A society with Greeks, with all its vices, is a recognizable and largely predictable society, and that gives you security. It’s your home, where you know its “houja”. Like when the ceiling is dripping and you know where to put the plastic bowl if it rains heavily. Being around strangers is intimidatingly unpredictable. And that limit of endurance has long since been exceeded.
That is why we are happy every time John “shoots” the opposing basket, but we are deeply concerned about the spike in crime caused by those who did not choose his path. We protest that they are not being deported and we regret that John has left the country, voluntarily. He too is a Greek boy (of Nigerian origin, at least) who had to emigrate to live his dream. Because the Greek taxpayer also paid for his own development, education and health, but now this investment is paying off in another economy. Just like the huge investment lost due to the brain drain. How many of the 300,000 or so young Greeks who “score” in technology and science in other countries will return to Greece at a productive age and how many will become the new generations of Greek-Americans, Greek-Australians, Greek-Canadians, etc. permanent residents abroad?
So Giannis declares himself to be Greek. But, we all know, that every year he will become more American. That is, less Greek. Like the 300,000 Greek refugees of the crisis. Therein lies the problem.”
For anyone that lasted reading all that but, more importantly, for those seeing how Giannis promotes himself, the conclusion is clear: Giannis is like the wind. He will say whatever it takes depending on the situation. He will pretend to be emotional about being Greek one day. Hey they let him lead the Olympic team even though he hardly ever turns up for the national team during the year. “Milwaukee is home” the next minute. And he will wax lyrical about his Nigerian roots if the NBA tells him to or some sponsor there pays enough.
Many years from now it will be shared in business school as an obvious blunder of epic dimensions. A franchise in a ‘small market’ (untrue but that is how it is presented) wins a championship after many years thanks to an amazing MVP player that everyone loves. And then…. constant failure as they drove themselves into the ground for another half century.
But how?
The rise of the Bucks I have documented here. They carefully traded players that could play around Giannis’ many weaknesses. And they won the NBA finals! Dream rag to riches story both for Giannis and the Bucks franchise. And that’s when the mistakes started:
Overpromising. “Khris let’s run it back!” said an exuberant Giannis on winning the chip. Many players say this. It’s only natural when you are on top of the world. The problem is that they acted as if it would be easy. As if they deserved that championship. They didn’t.
Running it back. It quickly became apparent that the team was nowhere near the other contenders. But the Bucks didn’t change anything. Some players read the signs and had had enough of the Giannis’ bullshit. Everyone was annoyed by the way he hogged the spotlight. But the media knew, anyone that knows ball knew. Giannis only got 1 vote for 1st place in MVP the next year. It was over. We all knew he can’t do clutch. And it just got worse because…
Make it OK to blame everyone else. It’s either the coaching staff or the rest of the roster. And this is official, from the top, the Bucks’ marketing machine is promoting Giannis as the ultimate tool so indirectly answering the question “what is to blame for our failures?” with “well, must be something other than Giannis!”
Catch22 of killing trade value for the rest of the roster. The Bucks are so busy protecting their investment in Giannis that they don’t realize that they are effectively killing their potential for trades. The NBA is no longer about throwing money around to get players. It is only about what assets you have that others want. But when you are constantly using the narrative of Giannis being perfect and everyone else to blame? Beverley , George Hill, Donte DiVincenzo were practically worthless as trade assets by the time the Bucks gave them away.
Hiding Giannis in the playoffs with pretend injuries. It really doesn’t matter if he was genuinely injured or it was a ploy. The Bucks would have lost those series anyway. The fact of the matter is that they have hyped Giannis to overplay in the regular season by promoting his stats above everything and everyone else.
Giannis weaknesses become apparent to all. This year they tried to spread the myth of Giannis mid range shot. It isn’t true of course. The NBA has moved ahead, the game is played in a way which makes Giannis almost irrelevant in the playoffs. Running and dunking, bully ball in the paint, only works in regular season match ups where the opponents don’t want to risk injury. Players like Wemby have the complete package. Giannis saying “I won’t take 3s” in a league of 3s is simply stupid. Especially when he is shooting the worse of any player in NBA history.
So what will happen? These playoffs they will hope to get to the second round at least. Then they can pretend that
“with a few additions”
“with some changes to the coaching staff”
“with different tactics”
or some other equally hairbrained excuse for dumbies, they will have a better chance next year. Then the season will roll as always, with the Bucks killing themselves to be high in the rankings in the regular season and failing again abysmally in the playoffs. Eventually Giannis will demand a trade if he has run out of excuses or if they lose badly enough from the first round.
And it will be too late.
Even without the significant potential for injury with the way he plays, the league has moved ahead without him. It’s not just his lack of 3. Giannis’ biggest problem is that he is one of the worse screeners in the NBA, he simply doesn’t understand angles at all. He can’t play advanced systems or even understand them. He can’t switch fast enough. He trains in such a stupid way that he is getting worse at free throws even. And most of all he is a victim of his own myth. He actually believes he is one of the best players in the NBA even though he lacks connections to the other players in meaningful ways and most don’t want him on their teams.
So even if he changes team, Giannis will fail. Badly. Maybe a team that wants him to try hard in the regular season so they can rest their aging superstars for the playoffs. Will his ego allow him such a role? Can he handle being benched in the playoffs? In any case the Bucks will be without options, without a young core for the future and with a sad memory of what they think could have been.
Feel free to use this for your MBA reading material. Don’t forget to play sad violin music while you read.
*Giannis isn’t a fail story of course for himself personally, he is so rich that all this is almost irrelevant to him even if his career keeps on this downhill trajectory.
Looking at his defensive rating it is clear that Giannis has given up trying in defence since he won DPOY. Every year he gets worse. (Lower is better for defensive rating.)
Other than racking up the easy defensive rebounds when nobody else is around….nada. It becomes clear when we look at any defensive metric which is multi factorial, for example the top 10 this season in Stable Rebounds/75 1. Kevon Looney 2. Isaiah Hartenstein 3. Steven Adams 4. Jonas Valanciunas 5. Andre Drummond 6. Ivica Zubac 7. Karl-Anthony Towns 8. Domantas Sabonis 9. Donovan Clingan 10. Walker Kessler.
Up there on the top right are the kings of defence. Rim protectors who also score well in D-Lebron (an all inclusive defence metric.) Giannis is nowhere, less steals, less blocks, less offensive rebounds, less everything. Here are the top in defensive rating this season, a good mix of various positions:
The Top 10 in Post Defense as per basketball index:
Domantas Sabonis
Jakob Poeltl
Wendell Carter Jr.
Nikola Vucevic
Deandre Ayton
Georges Niang
Jusuf Nurkic
Clint Capela
Trayce Jackson-Davis
Victor Wembanyama
And here is rim protection in the effective defensive percentage in relation to rim contests. Giannis has stopped almost everything in order to stat pad this season.
Next time some idiot starts shouting “MVP” when Giannis does something cool, maybe rethink it. He is now missing so many games he is out of that competition for this season and probably out of the scoring lead too.
After losing to the Warriors last night, many Bucks’ fans claimed that if Giannis was in the roster it would have been different. Maybe they need to learn how to use Google.
In the previous loss (similar score) Giannis got his stat padding done but it didn’t help.
The game before that the Bucks won…because Curry was resting. In fact these two teams don’t meet up very often but it does seem as if a) the Warriors are far superior and b) they don’t really care. In March 2022 when they met, again Giannis got 31 points but it did no good. Klay Thompson got 38 and the Warriors won easily.
The Top 10 in On-Ball Gravity as per Basketball index:
Damian Lillard
Jalen Brunson
James Harden
Stephen Curry
Anthony Edwards
Jayson Tatum
Jalen Green
Cade Cunningham
Trae Young
Luka Doncic
Giannis can’t deal with the Warriors big when they want to defend him. They just don’t bother usually in the regular season because like everybody else in the league they are not stupid to risk injury against the stupid way Giannis plays.
The speed of the Bucks offence would make it absolutely impossible for Giannis to play on their team. The trade rumours are completely stupid. Giannis can’t think that fast, let alone even understand the advanced plays the Warriors implement. Most importantly Giannis is one of the worse screeners in the NBA and screening is top priority for the Warriors. (Screening and getting away with it!)
In the 2022-23 season, the Bucks were 11-8 without Giannis. Of course he often skips games he knows they will lose. Last season they won 49 games and lost 33. There are a few reasons why the Bucks might be more successful without Giannis. First, the Bucks play a more balanced style of offense without Giannis. When Giannis is playing, the Bucks tend to rely on him to create most of their offense and of course he holds the ball way too long. Without Giannis, the Bucks’ other players have to step up and contribute more on offense. Second, the Bucks play with more energy and effort without Giannis. When Giannis is playing, the Bucks can sometimes get complacent, knowing that Giannis won’t let them get involved anyway. Without Giannis, the Bucks have to play harder and more focused in order to win.
Giannis missing the All Star game really is great for the NBA. For starters he is boring as hell to watch. Really doesn’t contribute to the glamour or spectacle of the All Star weekend, just makes it awkward usually. Do you remember the Anteto brothers in the skills contest? Yeah, exactly.
When the lights shine brightest Giannis and his clan simply never deliver. Even mic’ed up he is boring as watching paint dry:
This is fine. Not every NBA player can be spectacular. Giannis is boring in the way he plays and slightly amusing sometimes when he cracks jokes in a way that appeals to a few fans. The more important reason for Giannis to sit out games is that the Bucks simply play better without him:
That is the box score against the 76ers yesterday, a well rounded team performance. The ball moves better, defence is more agile. This isn’t just about Plus-Minus Metrics or APM. Offensive and defensive ratings are different and it really shows up what a practical problem Giannis is on the floor for any team with his lack of flexibility and emphasis on personal stat padding.
I would go as far as to claim that it is even good for Giannis. He needs to take some time to reflect on the mess he has created in the Bucks over the years with his dumb demands and direct or indirect influence over trades all these years. His emphasis on strength training which has ruined his shooting. The way he stat pads and ruins the game flow. He needs to get people around him that don’t suck up and tell him facts as they are: he has low basketball IQ and needs help on the court. It simply isn’t working. The championship was a massive lucky fluke. He needs to rethink the way he shuns working with other NBA stars. He needs to rethink his whole approach to the game and training for it.
Team chemistry and morale, the changes in playing style and strategy and of course the much increased opportunities for other players. Everyone bad mouthing the coaching staff now gets to see what they can do with players that can execute without Giannis impeding them. This Bucks team without Giannis is just that: a team.
Trading Khris Middleton was the final nail in the coffin of any playoff aspirations for the Bucks.
As things stand, first round against the Pacers we all know how it ends. Even if the Pacers’ stars are injured , Siakam or Myles Turner know how to neutralise Giannis. We have seen it many times. Without Khris as an alternative threat there isn’t much hope. This isn’t a one off in season tournament game. Against the Knicks it would be even worse. In a seven game playoff series the Bucks lose badly. Again.
That is the history. That is how big a fluke the championship run was. The Bucks with Giannis have failed consistently in the playoffs. Kuzma solves no problems. In fact he will struggle to find a role on the team next to ball dominant Giannis. While Kuzma can get hot from beyond the arc, his three-point shooting remains streaky. He’s not a knockdown shooter, which can sometimes limit his offensive impact and spacing for his team. Spacing is what Giannis needs, that is why they brought Lopez. Though he has the physical tools to be a solid defender, Kuzma sometimes lacks focus and consistency on that end of the floor. He can get caught ball-watching or lose his man, leading to easy baskets for opponents.
Kuzma’s offensive assertiveness can sometimes turn into tunnel vision. He can force shots or miss open teammates when he’s focused on scoring, which can disrupt the flow of the offense. Which already doesn’t flow much because of ball hog Giannis. And Kuzma’s decision-making can be questionable. He might take a difficult shot early in the shot clock or make a risky pass that leads to a turnover. Improving his decision-making will make him a more efficient and reliable player.
There have been instances where Kuzma’s maturity has been questioned. Whether it’s on-court antics or off-court comments, he can sometimes be a distraction for his team. Maintaining focus and composure will be crucial for his continued growth, will he be able to put up with Giannis? I think moving to the Bucks will test the limits of every aspect of Kuzma on and off the court.
And failing horribly in the playoffs again will only make it worse.
It is so common to hear “no help” in relation to Giannis. But
is it true? Let’s look at how many points the bench has scored in relation to other teams.
So with only 48 games, the Bucks bench is much better than so many title contenders.
And who are these players making the difference?
In fact the Bucks’ good defensive periods are when the team does well.
Looking at the breakdown per Bucks’ player, here are they are ranked by points made of players coming off the bench:
So what is the problem? Giannis is! He is holding the ball too long in his constant stat padding efforts. It is ludicrous to have a forward on the top of the possession chart of a basketball team:
Next time someone wants to complain about Pat, maybe look at that chart again. Connaughton had the ball 1/10th of the time that Giannis did. AJ Green 1/5th of the time. How on earth do you expect players to develop at all like that?
For starters, most people respond with “who cares if he can’t shoot the 3?” They could be correct, let’s look in more detail. Here are his career 3point percentages per season:
This should very much worry everybody. Not having a good shot could not be a major problem maybe. But getting worse every year needs further analysis. Combine this with the fact that he is shooting free throws worse than ever in his career and it is extremely worrying. Much like with that analysis, the only rational conclusion is that Giannis:
Hasn’t got the body IQ to figure out how to control his shooting motion.
Hasn’t got the business IQ to ask for help from people that know. (He famously refuses to train with other NBA stars in the summer.)
If Giannis keeps shooting like this season he will slot in for second worse 3point shooter in NBA history after all these people you have probably never heard of.
This isn’t even a fair comparison since Denis Johnson hardly played in the 3point era we are living. Yep, that’s right, this is “the 3point era” and Giannis thinks any team would want to trade for him when he is shooting 18%? In fact let’s look at that all time terrible 3points shooters list again and you will see that almost all of them shoot the free throw better than Giannis! And – more importantly – they had the intelligence not to attempt that many shots from 3.
Maybe this year is a fluke, let’s look at the entire last season. Oh, no, he is still terrible, one of the worse in the league, here they are ranked by worse 3point percentage:
So in a league that lives by the 3, Giannis should not even think about wasting a shot like that. And – worse still – the way he plays in the paint which some people admire, often ends up in free throws which he then misses. Maybe thirty years ago he could get away with it. In the modern NBA Giannis already looks like a relic. No, worse, a relic that has no idea how to improve.
The Milwaukee Bucks are often cited as a small-market team, but is that really the case? Milwaukee is the 39th-largest media market in the United States. While not a major market like New York or Los Angeles, it is still a sizable market with a dedicated fan base. The Bucks are owned by a group of wealthy investors who are willing to spend money to improve the team. But this is not about the money.
No, this is simply that Giannis is boring to watch. Despite the great personal story, the lovable character and everything else going for him, end of the day, he just don’t know ball.
Case in point: All star votes. Dame Lillard while at Portland, playing his backside off, received 700 thousand votes. That seems like a small market. Next year at the Bucks, playing much worse, no playoff run at all and he gets…2.1 million votes! Boohoo, what a small market, eh? And that despite falling in media, player and coaches votes that year.
It is ludicrous to talk about a “small market” in the age of social media. Is Ja Morant in a ‘major’ market? Hell no, he is simply spectacular! I Lamelo Ball playing for a major market? Well more people go to see him Giannis!
TV ratings? Same story. When you switch on the television you don’t care where they are playing or if it is a big or small market. College basketball and even the WNBA have smashed viewing records. Why? Because something exciting happens there. When Giannis is on court nothing spectacular happens, just run and dunk, the same dunk 99% of the time, the same couple of moves, no ball movement, no fun.
So save your breath Giannis and save the pathetic excuses. You are too chicken shit to leave Milwaukee and we all know it.
In the Giannis fan boy world there is a 50point Finals performance that ends discussions. But in the NBA that’s not how it works. These are the top clutch performers this season when a game is 5 points difference or less for the last 5 minutes of the game.
For any Joker comparing Giannis to Jokic, yes, Jokic is at the top of this and here are Giannis pathetic stats for the same thing:
Giannis has half the points in clutch this season and with much, much, much worse percentages all across the board. He basically doesn’t know what to do under pressure. We have all seen him. He panics, it is pitiful. It used to be Khris saving him, now he just gives the ball to Dame all the time. Heck even Jaylen Brown has more clutch points and a much better plus minus (+46) than Giannis. (+19)
But we all know it is worse than just those numbers. Because Giannis makes terrible mistakes under pressure. We have seen it again and again. When the Bucks are behind or tied he is much worse. Here are the top this season:
Giannis is waaay down in the 3d page of results, 104th in the NBA when his team is behind or tied in the last five minutes. He simply can’t operate.
The numbers look even worse for Giannis when you filter for the last 1 minute of the games or the last 2 minutes. He knows he can’t think fast but still…everyone has made him think he can. Even though you can see it in his position and in his body language that he isn’t even sure what is going on.
Giannis started playing basketball late in life. He simply doesn’t have the automatic reflexes that the others do. He can’t even comprehend any advanced plays or adjust to the finer points of angles and timing. For those that want to compare him to Wemby (here more on that) here are all the players in Giannis’ position compared, Giannis is 39th and compares terribly to a rookie ten years younger than him in clutch situations!
Giannis has more assists because he is chicken shit in clutch. And all this even though he is on a superior team (pre Fox trade) that has more wins in such close games.
It is one more reason why most serious contenders don’t want Giannis. He is only good for regular season try harding. Maybe as Steph gets older he would want him in the regular season so he can rest. Then in games that matter bench him.
For starters he finally made 3s! Even though he is fast heading for the worse 3pt% of his career and possibly in NBA history, tonight he made 2 out of 3 which is highly unusual. Even when not guarded, which he isn’t.
0/6 free throws is terrible even by Giannis standards. We know he can’t shoot and I think he will never learn how to shoot. (More about Giannis’ free throw issues here.) But look at this:
Not even mine that image is from a Bucks’ fan page (not mentioning author name in case he doesn’t want me to but you can follow the link and join the group to thank him.) And it beautifully illustrates just how low Giannis’ basketball IQ is. Either that or all he cares about is getting the scoring record. He clearly doesn’t care about getting his team mates involved. And he obviously understand that it simply doesn’t work. All too often he gets tangled and misses and even more often he gets fouled and misses the free throws. And even though it clearly doesn’t work, he keeps doing it. It’s not because the coaching staff don’t see the problem. It is because Giannis can’t adapt, he simply can’t do anything else, he lacks the skills and mental acumen on the court to even understand more advanced systems and plays. This is why he will never go to the Golden State Warriors.
This is not a shot chart to be proud of and it is typical. Last game against the Spurs, similar, just without the 3s.
That includes the freak one legged fall back. It’s almost as if Giannis is happy to keep doing the same thing. That doesn’t work. That doesn’t get anyone else involved. That doesn’t help the Bucks win. Here is how much he held the ball:
Some fans complain that the coach keeps him out at the start of the last quarter. It is actually the correct call. Giannis is terrible in clutch situations. But more importantly for him right now, garbage time is a great opportunity to get some easier buckets as he chases the scoring record which seems to be all he cares about this season. Or all he can actually achieve.
The NBA landscape is buzzing with excitement over Victor Wembanyama, the French phenom touted as a generational talent. With his unique blend of size, agility, and shooting touch, Wembanyama has drawn comparisons to some of the game’s greats, including Giannis Antetokounmpo. But is the hype justified? And has Wembanyama already surpassed Giannis as the league’s most dominant force?
Wembanyama’s Unique Skillset
Wembanyama’s physical attributes are simply astounding. Standing at 7’4″ with an 8-foot wingspan, he possesses the size of a traditional center. However, his game is anything but traditional. Wembanyama moves with the fluidity of a guard, showcasing remarkable ball-handling skills and a smooth shooting stroke from beyond the arc. His ability to stretch the floor and knock down three-pointers makes him a nightmare matchup for opposing defenses.
Defensively, Wembanyama is a force to be reckoned with. His length and athleticism allow him to protect the rim and disrupt shots with ease. He’s also quick enough to switch onto smaller players and defend them on the perimeter. Wembanyama’s defensive potential is truly sky-high. We saw him swat Giannis in a few minutes just now. And he didn’t even need to jump! He also has an actual dribble, basketball IQ, fast responses, great court vision and flexibility.
Giannis Antetokounmpo has been a dominant player for the past few years in the regular season but has none of these skills. His combination of size, strength, and athleticism is a reliable point getter because he always tries so hard. Giannis’ ability to drive to the basket and finish with power is unstoppable by defences not willing to try harder and risk injury in the regular season so he often gets away with it. He’s also a two-time MVP and a Defensive Player of the Year, proving his all-around impact on the game. But that was then. Since his MVP and DPOY years his stats have been falling. All he seems to care about is points now, basically at the rim so he can also talk about fg%.
Has Wembanyama passed Giannis?
While Wembanyama’s potential is undeniable, it’s still early to crown him as the next NBA dominator. However, Wembanyama possesses a unique skillset that could make him much more dominant than Giannis in the long run. His ability to stretch the floor and shoot from the perimeter adds a new dimension to his offensive game. If Wembanyama can develop his all-around game and stay healthy, he has the potential to become the NBA’s next superstar. He seems to be taking his time and has much better awareness of his body. More importantly he seems to understand that some things, like building a winning team, take time. Every step he makes shows intelligence and forethought as opposed to the…bulldozer approach by Giannis in his decade at the NBA. I also consider it important that Wemby is , well, normal, he socialises with other players and people, he is willing to listen and learn.
The Future of the NBA
The NBA is in good hands with young talents like Wembanyama and Giannis leading the way. Their battles on the court won’t be must-see TV for much longer. I would say it’s already over but we all know Giannis is like a dog with a bone and will keep trying like a maniac to prove us all wrong.
The Milwaukee Bucks are at a crossroads. After a disappointing early exit from the playoffs, the whispers of change are growing louder, often fuelled by Giannis with direct or indirect statements. One name that occasionally surfaces in these discussions, much to the chagrin of sensible fans, is Khris Middleton. Let me be absolutely clear: trading Khris Middleton would be a colossal blunder, a self-inflicted wound that could cripple the Bucks’ championship aspirations for years to come.
Here’s why:
1. Proven Chemistry with Giannis: The most obvious and crucial reason. Middleton and Giannis Antetokounmpo have developed an unparalleled on-court synergy. Their two-man game is lethal, a constant source of headaches for opposing defenses. You don’t break up a dynamic duo like that unless you’re absolutely desperate. The Bucks’ success is inextricably linked to the Middleton-Giannis connection. Why mess with a winning formula? Dame has improved but is nowhere near that.
2. Elite Shot Creation: Middleton’s ability to create his own shot, especially in clutch situations, is invaluable. He’s a reliable scorer who can bail the Bucks out of stagnant offensive possessions. When defenses tighten up on Giannis, Middleton provides a crucial release valve. He can hit contested jumpers, drive to the basket, and draw fouls. Replacing that level of shot creation wouldn’t be easy, and it certainly wouldn’t be cheap. And remember, we are doing all this for the playoffs, so don’t tell me about some young unproven star. Very few people can operate at the top level and we know Khris is one of them.
3. Playoff Experience: Middleton has been through the playoff wars. He’s seen it all, from nail-biting victories to heartbreaking defeats. That experience is priceless, especially when the pressure mounts in the postseason. He knows what it takes to compete at the highest level, and he can provide veteran leadership to a relatively young Bucks squad. You can’t teach playoff experience; it’s earned. Even Dame isn’t close to having similar experience.
4. Consistent Scoring Threat: Middleton is a consistent scorer, not just a volume shooter; he’s efficient, shooting a respectable percentage from the field and from three-point range. His scoring punch provides balance to the Bucks’ offense, preventing them from becoming too reliant on Giannis.
5. Contract Considerations (Less Onerous Than You Think): Yes, Middleton’s contract is significant. However, narratives around it being an albatross are often overblown. While not a “bargain,” it’s a manageable contract for a player of his caliber. And let’s be honest, contending teams always have big contracts on their books. It’s the price of doing business.
6. The Difficulty of Finding a Replacement: Who are the Bucks going to trade Middleton for that will provide the same level of production, chemistry, and playoff experience? The answer is likely no one. Finding a player with his skillset and fit within the Bucks’ system would be incredibly difficult, if not impossible. Trading him would likely create more problems than it solves.
7. Intangibles: Beyond the stats and highlights, Middleton brings a level of professionalism and composure to the Bucks. He’s a team player, a good locker room presence, and a respected leader. These intangibles are often overlooked, but they play a crucial role in team success.
So trading Khris Middleton would be a shortsighted move that could seriously jeopardize the Bucks’ chances of competing for a championship. He’s a vital piece of the puzzle, a perfect complement to Giannis, and a proven winner. The Bucks should be building around Middleton and Giannis, not looking for ways to break them up. But all this is yet another Giannis mistake. That’s the only reason all this discussion keeps coming around. Front office feel they have to look like they tried everything, even though they know they can’t anyone better than Khris to help with any (very small) chances of a playoff run. The only reason anyone is even discussing this stupidity is the ridiculous narrative that Giannis is the only player worth anything on the Bucks roster, the lone hero fighting with no help.
Any talk of trading Khris should be immediately shut down. It’s not just a bad idea; it’s basketball malpractice.
A long time ago, as they often recount the tale, the Bucks brought a young athletic boy to their town. Sure he couldn’t dribble or shoot, but his body had amazing and unique characteristics. And he worked really hard. And the Bucks did everything they could to make him comfortable, brought his family over and much more.
So as he started playing he won people over with his smile. It also became apparent he needed a mentor on the court, Khris was ideal and he has done it selflessly for all these years. Giannis had no clue about how the NBA game worked. Khris took the slack for him in any situation that Giannis couldn’t understand or simply lacked the skills.
In defence that was Jrue’s job. Giannis can’t read opponents. He can’t operate fast enough. So Jrue plugged the holes. As the Bucks playing style evolved to suit Giannis they looked for young, cheap and no ego sharp shooters to spread around the floor. And when it came time for a center to help in the paint, they picked Brook precisely because of his lethal (and then quite unique for a big) 3 point ability.
And it worked! With a lot of good luck in the playoffs and thanks to Khris, Jrue and Brook they got Giannis to the Finals. That series was the Bucks’ to lose as it turned out and they quite easily won it. Giannis even had an epic 50 point game for the books. Heck he even scored free throws! And what did he do?
In the ultimate show of inexperience he said, implied and outright shouted two pretty lethal messages:
I did this the right way, no help, no superteam
We are going to run it back next year.
1. About the “right way” he was soooo wrong. As I explain here that Bucks team was a superteam. But most importantly Giannis proclaimed to the whole world that he was the Bucks. On his own. Solo. No super team, just a bunch of losers and him.
2. So they didn’t “run it back”. Αny player staying on after this had to further suck up any ego or leave. The narrative almost every game the Bucks lost from then on is “Giannis tried but was let down by the rest of the roster.” Every single time. He is busy stat padding, hogging the ball, everyone else looks terrible.
What player in his right mind would even consider joining such a team? You would have to be pretty desperate, have no ego and no other offers. Enter poor Damien Lillard. A player who almost damaged the Blazers in a similar fashion except he is smarter and the Blazers realised it sooner and built a young core better. And of course Dame starts and gets the same abuse as everyone else. He has to work with Giannis’ inferior basketball IQ yet not make him look bad on court. This is a conundrum that Khris had figured out to a certain extent but is getting too old to carry for a whole game like he used to. Dame has to wait for Giannis to do his thing and if he gets stuck in traffic has to hope Giannis will see him so that he can get a – usually terrible – pass from him to try and score with little time and with the entire opponent’s roster knowing that he has few options.
So Dame does the Khris thing. In crunch time Giannis just keeps giving him the ball as if saying “dude I have no idea what to do when up against teams that actually defend against me!” The problem is that Giannis has believed his own hype. He keeps training for strength, he keeps trying to play bully ball, he just looks at points/assists/rebounds at the end of the game as if that is all that matters. When they win in the regular season against lesser opponents the NBA media and the Bucks marketing team shout a lot about his personal stats looking for rare and weird ones like 30point games with more than 3.14 times rotation of the Earth around Jupiter while the game was being played. When they lose against better opponents or anyone that bothers to defend Giannis with a bit of effort it is “Giannis tried but XYZ.” The narrative is always “Giannis is top dog, must be the rest of them at fault“.
And he is killing the Bucks in the meantime.
(PS Tonight the Bucks lost to the Blazers. Giannis was “player of the game” according to Bucks marketing and many fans. How does that make sense? He controlled the game most of the time other than the first quarter when he let Dame bring the ball down for a while. He just kept running the same play and forcing the Bucks to play in the same way even though it was clearly not working. What would his idol Lebron James have done? Got more players involved. Changed it up. At worse Giannis should have left the younger players get more minutes. You are not the “best player” when you are effectively killing your team both short term and in the long term.)
In short, no he wont. Here is more of a decade of data, his free throw percentage is actually getting worse.
Let’s think about this. There have been plenty bigs in the NBA that had trouble from the line. They usually were at a stable percentage or even got slightly better with time. Giannis is getting worse! This is extra impressive given that he shoots more than anyone in the league, every season Giannis is the worse. He misses the most.
Everybody knows Giannis tries hard. In eleven years in the NBA you pretty much know that multiple trainers, coaches and experts have been called in. Yet he is getting worse. Why? Here are potential reasons:
Wrong training regime. Not talking about free throw training, I mean Giannis is in the weights room focusing on brute strength. Because that is what you all cheer him on for. That is what gets him in the photos after the game. But that is not basketball, a game of finesse and balance.
Terrible shooting technique in general. Giannis started playing ball at a later age. Most of the things he does are not as fluent as other players that started younger. And he clearly lacks the body intelligence to adapt quickly to the necessary changes in small movements and muscle memory.
His hands are too big. This is actually a thing. Everyone admires his wingspan and enormous fingers. Great for palming the ball (in fact Giannis is high up in palming violations too) but not so great for a stable free throw.
Lack of social intelligence. In fact he brags about how he avoids training with other NBA super stars in the summer. As if it is a clever thing to do. But at the top level, they are the only ones that can make you better. Giannis obviously doesn’t know how to change up his personal development methods.
A great example is the whole thing with the ten second rule. Giannis is in clear violation of the rule very often. He ruins the flow of the game for everyone, he ruins the already low Bucks TV ratings, it is awkward and messy. So why has he never thought of shooting the damn ball faster when at the free throw?
Usually because he is exhausted! He has usually waited around the paint to get the easy defensive rebound. His team mates have cleared out to let him have it for his stat padding. Then he will run the floor. This – as anyone who has played ball knows – takes energy. When you have the ball you have to be ready to fend off opponents trying to get to the ball. Because Giannis has no dribbling skills he counters this by running fast. So he has made an explosion of energy to get down the court, then often got caught up in traffic, now stuck in traffic. Which is an even more tiring high stress situation for any player. So if he gets to the free throw it is because he found some more energy to push his way to the rim. Of course he needs ten seconds to recover!
So this season so far, in the Bucks easier half of the games, Giannis has already missed almost three times more free throws than anyone else. That is 1700 seconds of wasted TV time, boring down time hurting the TV ratings and making the game worse.
More than a decade in the NBA and shooting worse than ever. Giannis, whatever you are doing, it ain’t working and it won’t work. You are not the worse in NBA history (yet) but you are fast coming up to be the worse in NBA history that has shot so many. And despite what some fans think, a solo run to the rim that ends up in a foul when you miss the free throws is a very, very bad play for your team.
