Greek Freak Analyzed

Tag: hype

  • Has Giannis Really Played All Five Positions?

    Has Giannis Really Played All Five Positions?

    Giannis Antetokounmpo’s unique combination of size, speed, and skill has led to a persistent narrative: Giannis has played all five positions. This claim gets tossed around in highlight reels, podcasts, and casual fan debates, but how much truth is there to it? He relies heavily on drives, can’t even shoot free throws to save his life, has almost zero play making skills, has completely given up trying from 3pt land, terrible off the ball, rarely cutting or setting screens to create space, his post game lacks refined footwork or go-to moves. Let’s face it. He ain’t gonna improve either. Defence? Even worse limitations! Giannis struggles to stay in front of smaller, quicker guards on the perimeter due to his size and lateral quickness limitations, making him less effective in switch-heavy schemes against certain match ups. His aggressive help defence leads to overcommitting, leaving shooters open or creating gaps in the Bucks’ defensive rotations. He often gets caught on screens, particularly in pick-and-roll situations, where his recovery speed doesn’t always match his rim-protecting instincts. And of course against sharp-shooting teams, his closeouts on three-point shooters are abysmally slow.

    Defining the Five Positions

    To evaluate this claim, we first need to define what we mean by “playing all five positions.” In traditional basketball, the five positions are:

    1. Point Guard (PG): The primary ball-handler, playmaker, and floor general, responsible for initiating the offense and distributing the ball.
    2. Shooting Guard (SG): Typically a perimeter-oriented player focused on scoring, often via outside shooting or driving.
    3. Small Forward (SF): A versatile wing player who balances scoring, defense, and sometimes playmaking.
    4. Power Forward (PF): A frontcourt player who combines physicality, rebounding, and scoring, often in the post or mid-range.
    5. Center (C): The anchor of the paint, responsible for rim protection, rebounding, and scoring close to the basket.

    In today’s NBA, the lines between these positions have blurred, with “positionless” players like Giannis thriving in multiple roles. But for Giannis to have “played all five positions,” he would need to have meaningfully performed the primary responsibilities of each role in actual NBA games, either as a starter or in specific stints.

    Giannis’s Positional Journey

    Giannis, at 6’11” with a 7’3” wingspan, entered the NBA in 2013 as a lanky, raw prospect with the Milwaukee Bucks. Over the years, his role has evolved significantly, which fuels the myth of his five-position versatility. Let’s examine his career arc and the positions he’s actually played.

    Small Forward: His Natural Starting Point

    When Giannis debuted, the Bucks listed him as a small forward. His early role leaned heavily on his athleticism, with responsibilities including:

    • Transition scoring
    • Slashing to the basket
    • Perimeter defense against wings

    This is the position where Giannis spent the bulk of his early career (2013–2016). His lanky frame and guard-like agility made him a prototypical modern small forward, capable of guarding multiple positions and running the floor. Official NBA tracking data from Basketball-Reference lists him as a small forward for his first three seasons, and this aligns with his on-court role under coaches like Jason Kidd.

    Power Forward: The Modern Role

    As Giannis bulked up and developed his game, the Bucks shifted him to power forward, especially under coach Mike Budenholzer starting in 2018. This is where Giannis has thrived most, leveraging his size and skill to:

    • Attack mismatches in the post
    • Serve as a help defender and rim protector
    • Grab rebounds and initiate fast breaks

    His dominance as a power forward earned him back-to-back MVPs (2019, 2020) and a Finals MVP in 2021. NBA tracking data confirms that Giannis has played the majority of his minutes at the 4 (power forward) in recent seasons, with advanced lineup data from Cleaning the Glass showing him logging over 70% of his minutes at power forward from 2018 to 2023.

    Center: Occasional Stints

    Giannis has also played center, particularly in small-ball lineups. The Bucks have used him at the 5 in specific situations, such as:

    • When Brook Lopez or Bobby Portis is off the floor
    • In playoff matchups against smaller teams (e.g., the 2021 Nets series)
    • During “death lineup” configurations to maximize spacing and speed

    According to NBA.com’s lineup data, Giannis has spent roughly 10–15% of his minutes at center in recent seasons, often in crunch time or against teams lacking a traditional big. In these stints, he handles rim protection, rebounding, and even some pick-and-roll defense. However, he’s rarely the primary center for extended periods, as Milwaukee prefers Lopez’s floor-spacing and rim protection for most minutes.

    The Guard Positions: Where the Myth Stumbles

    Here’s where the “all five positions” claim starts to fray. While Giannis’s ball-handling and playmaking have improved dramatically—he averaged 5.6 assists per game in the 2022–23 season and often initiates Milwaukee’s offense—the idea that he’s played point guard or shooting guard in a meaningful way doesn’t hold up.

    Point Guard: The “Point Giannis” Hype

    The “Point Giannis” narrative took off in 2016 when Jason Kidd famously called Giannis the Bucks’ point guard. That season, Giannis’s usage as a ball-handler increased, and he ran more pick-and-rolls and transition plays. But calling him a point guard was more about hype than reality. Here’s why:

    • Role vs. Position: Giannis brought the ball up and initiated offense, but he wasn’t guarding opposing point guards like Damian Lillard or Chris Paul. His defensive assignments remained wings and forwards.
    • Box Score Evidence: Basketball-Reference and NBA.com still listed him as a forward, and his minutes at the 1 were negligible (less than 5% per Cleaning the Glass).
    • Playstyle: Giannis’s playmaking often came from the high post or after grabbing defensive rebounds, not from running a traditional point guard’s half-court offense.

    While Giannis has point guard skills—dribbling, passing, and vision—he hasn’t played the point guard position in the way players like Jrue Holiday or Damian Lillard have done for Milwaukee.

    Shooting Guard: The Weakest Link

    The claim that Giannis has played shooting guard is even shakier. Shooting guards in the modern NBA (e.g., Devin Booker, Donovan Mitchell) are typically perimeter scorers who rely on outside shooting and off-ball movement. Giannis, by contrast:

    • Shoots sparingly from three (career 28.6% from three as of 2025)
    • Rarely plays off-ball as a catch-and-shoot threat
    • Doesn’t guard opposing shooting guards like Bradley Beal or Zach LaVine. (And if he does it kills his team as per Tyrese blowing by him multiple times in clutch time in these playoffs…)

    Lineup data shows no significant minutes logged at the 2. His role has never resembled that of a shooting guard, even in small-ball lineups where he’s more likely to slide to center than guard a perimeter scorer.

    Why the Myth Persists

    So why does the “all five positions” narrative stick? Several factors contribute:

    1. Positionless Basketball: The NBA’s shift toward positionless play blurs traditional roles. Giannis’s ability to handle, pass, score, and defend multiple players makes him seem like he could play any position, even if he doesn’t.
    2. Highlight Plays: Viral clips of Giannis dribbling past guards or switching onto point guards in crunch time fuel the perception of him as a five-position player.
    3. Coach and Media Hype: Comments like Jason Kidd’s “point guard” label and media narratives about Giannis’s versatility amplify the myth without rigorous analysis.
    4. Fan Imagination: Giannis’s freakish athleticism invites fans to imagine him dominating any role, even ones he hasn’t played.

    The Reality: Giannis Is not a Versatile Forward

    Giannis has undeniably played three positions—small forward, power forward, and centre—with significant minutes and impact. He hasn’t logged meaningful time as a point guard or shooting guard, nor has he performed their primary duties (e.g., running a half-court offence or playing as an off-ball shooter).

    Advanced metrics support this. According to Defensive Player Versatility Index (DVPI) from 2023, Giannis ranks among the top forwards in guarding multiple positions, but his matchups are predominantly against wings and bigs, not guards. Offensively, his usage rate (around 32% in recent seasons) reflects a forward’s role, not a guard’s.

    So it’s not true, yet another Giannis hype myth

    The myth that Giannis Antetokounmpo has played all five positions doesn’t hold up under scrutiny. He lacks the flexibility to play point guard and shooting guard in a traditional sense. While he has guard-like skills (ball-handling, play making), he doesn’t run a half-court offence like a point guard or play off-ball as a perimeter shooter like a shooting guard. His defensive assignments rarely include guarding opposing guards, and lineup data shows negligible minutes at these positions Next time you hear someone claim Giannis has played all five positions, ask for the game tape. Chances are, they’re just caught up in the legend of the Greek Freak.

    Sources

    • Basketball-Reference.com for positional data and career stats
    • NBA.com for lineup and tracking data
    • Cleaning the Glass for advanced positional breakdowns
    • ESPN and The Athletic for historical context on Giannis’s role evolution
  • Giannis isn’t “loyal”, he is scared

    Giannis isn’t “loyal”, he is scared

    Whispers persist about whether Giannis would ever leave the Bucks for a new challenge. While some argue he’d thrive elsewhere, there’s a compelling case that Giannis might be hesitant to depart Milwaukee—not due to a lack of ambition, but because staying put shields him from intense scrutiny, hides his weaknesses, and provides a comfortable narrative for his playoff shortcomings. Sure, he will try and sell it as “loyalty” but think about it. He hasn’t got a chance in a million to win another ring with the Bucks. They have spend so long pampering his every whim, changing coaches and players as per his demands that they have absolutely nothing left to trade. If he really wants a ring he should go. But he won’t.

    The Comfort of Milwaukee’s System

    The Bucks have built their entire system around Giannis’s unique skill set. Coach Mike Budenholzer (and now Doc Rivers) designed offences that maximise his ability to attack the rim, leveraging his length, speed, and power. Milwaukee surrounded him with shooters like Khris Middleton, Brook Lopez, and Damian Lillard to space the floor, allowing Giannis to operate in the paint or as a playmaker in transition. This tailored environment masks some of his limitations, particularly his inconsistent outside shooting and free-throw struggles. The Bucks again were top of the NBA in 3pt% as a team despite Giannis shooting worse than ever in his career and close to the worse of any NBA player ever in a single season.

    On a new team, Giannis will not have the same luxury. A franchise like the Miami Heat or Los Angeles Lakers, for example, might demand more versatility in half-court offence or a greater reliance on perimeter skills. If Giannis joined a team with a less complementary roster, his 30.8% career three-point shooting (as of the 2024-25 season) and 68.5% free-throw percentage could become glaring liabilities. In Milwaukee, these weaknesses are mitigated by a system that doesn’t require him to be a sharpshooter. Elsewhere, they’d be magnified, potentially exposing him as a one-dimensional star in critical moments.

    The Excuse of the Supporting Cast

    In Milwaukee, Giannis has a built-in narrative for playoff disappointments: the roster around him isn’t good enough. This is a complete lie as I broke down in this blog post. When the Bucks fell to the Miami Heat in the 2020 playoffs or struggled against the Boston Celtics in 2022, analysts and fans often pointed to Khris Middleton’s injuries, Jrue Holiday’s inconsistency, or a lack of depth. This narrative allows Giannis to deflect criticism, maintaining his status as a transcendent talent held back by circumstances.

    If Giannis moved to a superteam the excuses would vanish. A new team with high-calibre talent would place the spotlight squarely on Giannis’s performance. If he failed to deliver in the playoffs, the blame would shift from the roster to his own limitations, such as his struggles in clutch situations or his predictable offensive approach against elite defences. The pressure to perform without the safety net of “it’s the team’s fault” could be daunting, especially for a player who thrives on being the underdog. Giannis already looks like a fool for talking about not joining a superteam only to get Dame next to him.

    Playoff Pressure and the Fear of Failure

    Giannis’s playoff resume is a mixed bag. His 2021 championship was a triumph, but it was mainly luck and not really due to Giannis when you break it down. Other years have been less kind: the Bucks’ early exits in 2019, 2020, 2023, and 2024 exposed vulnerabilities in Giannis’s game, particularly against teams that build a “wall” to clog the paint. Opponents like the Raptors (2019) and Heat (2020) exploited his lack of a reliable jump shot, daring him to shoot while shutting down his drives.

    On a new team, Giannis would face even greater playoff scrutiny. In Milwaukee, he’s the hometown hero, forgiven for setbacks because of his loyalty and the Bucks’ small-market status. In a bigger market or on a contending roster, every playoff game would be a referendum on his greatness. A failure to advance deep into the postseason could cement a narrative that Giannis can’t lead a team to a title without the perfect supporting cast, tarnishing his legacy. The risk of such failure might make him wary of leaving the familiarity of Milwaukee, where expectations, while high, are tempered by the city’s underdog mentality.

    The Burden of Improvement

    Giannis’ shooting remains a work in progress and he is running out of excuses. In Milwaukee, his reluctance to develop a consistent mid-range or three-point shot is often excused as a byproduct of his dominance in other areas. Fans and analysts argue, “Why change what works?” But on a new team, especially one with a different offensive philosophy, Giannis would face unrelenting pressure to evolve.

    For example, joining a team like the Golden State Warriors, where spacing and shooting are paramount, would force Giannis to confront his weaknesses head-on. Without the Bucks’ system to lean on, he’d need to become a more complete offensive player, a challenge he’s been slow to embrace. The fear of being exposed as stagnant—or worse, incapable of adapting—could deter him from taking the leap to a new environment where his growth would be non-negotiable. People talk about him going to the Warriors but his inability to set up screens is only one of many weaknesses which make that completely ridiculous.

    The Loyalty Factor and Public Perception

    Giannis’s loyalty to Milwaukee is a cornerstone of his public image. He signed a supermax extension in 2020, cementing his status as a rare superstar who stayed with a small-market team. This decision endeared him to fans and shielded him from the criticism often levelled at players who chase rings elsewhere, like LeBron James or Kevin Durant. Leaving Milwaukee could fracture this narrative, painting him as just another star chasing glory rather than building a legacy.

    Moreover, a move to a bigger market or a super team could invite comparisons to other superstars, where Giannis’s weaknesses might stand out more starkly. In Milwaukee, he’s the undisputed alpha, free from the shadow of a co-star who might outshine him. On a team with another MVP-calibre player, he’d risk being seen as the “second option,” a label that could bruise his ego and alter how his career is perceived. Superstars avoid Giannis for various reasons I list here.

    The Psychological Weight of Change

    Beyond basketball, leaving Milwaukee would mean uprooting a life Giannis has built over a decade. He’s spoken openly about his love for the city, his teammates, and the organisation that believed in him as a scrawny teenager from Greece. The emotional and psychological toll of adapting to a new city, fan base, and team culture could weigh heavily, especially for a player who values stability. The fear of failing to mesh with a new team—both on and off the court—might make staying in Milwaukee the safer choice.

    Other Risks of Leaving

    1. Media Scrutiny in a Bigger Market: Milwaukee’s relatively small media market offers Giannis a buffer from the intense scrutiny of cities like New York or Los Angeles. A move to a high-profile team would invite relentless analysis of his every move, from his shot selection to his body language.
    2. Fan Backlash: Bucks fans have embraced Giannis as one of their own. Leaving could alienate a loyal fanbase, creating pressure to justify his decision with immediate success. The emotional toll of being booed in Milwaukee during return games could be a deterrent.
    3. Team Chemistry Risks: Giannis’s game relies on trust and chemistry with teammates who understand his style. A new team might struggle to integrate his ball-dominant, paint-focused approach, leading to friction or underperformance.
    4. Legacy Concerns: Giannis has a chance to be Milwaukee’s greatest player ever, a legend who brought a title to a city starved for success. Leaving risks diluting that legacy, especially if he fails to match or exceed his Bucks achievements elsewhere. We know he likes stat padding, well now he can smash every franchise record and pretend he is doing it to be loyal.

    Giannis is too chicken to move

    Giannis Antetokounmpo’s fear of leaving the Milwaukee Bucks is about the risks of stepping out of a perfectly crafted comfort zone. In Milwaukee, his weaknesses are mitigated, his playoff failures are cushioned by roster excuses, and his loyalty shields him from harsh criticism. A move to a new team would strip away these protections, exposing him to scrutiny, demanding growth in areas he’s yet to master, and risking his carefully built legacy. It looks as if Giannis doesn’t have the skill set to succeed anywhere and he knows it. The fear of failure, magnified by a new environment, will probably keep him rooted in Milwaukee for years to come. As he showed this season, he is quite happy stat padding and making the rest of his team look bad.

  • Best paid athletes in the world – Giannis’ position. Is he worth it?

    Best paid athletes in the world – Giannis’ position. Is he worth it?

    He is number 13 in the Forbes’ list:

    Giannis is not required to pay taxes in Greece on his income earned in the United States, as Greece does not tax its citizens on foreign-earned income. Only income earned within Greece is subject to Greek taxation, and there’s no indication that Antetokounmpo earns significant income from sources within Greece that would require him to pay taxes there. He primarily earns his income from his NBA salary with the Milwaukee Bucks, endorsements, and investments, most of which are based in the U.S. or other countries. For example, his 2023-24 salary was reported at $45.6 million, and his net worth is estimated between $70-140 million, largely from U.S.-based contracts and endorsements with companies like Nike and T-Mobile.

    Reasons Some Argue Giannis Is Overpaid

    Massive Contract Size Relative to Performance in Key Moments:

    • Giannis signed a five-year, $228.2 million supermax extension with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2020, with a player option for 2025-26. His 2023-24 salary was $45.6 million, and his 2024-25 salary is around $48.8 million, among the NBA’s highest. Critics argue this is disproportionate for a player who hasn’t consistently delivered in high-stakes playoff scenarios since the 2021 championship. For instance, the Bucks’ early playoff exits in 2022 (second round) and 2023 (first round) raised questions about his ability to lead under pressure, especially with injuries and perceived struggles against elite defenses.
    • His playoff performance can be inconsistent. In the 2023 playoffs, he shot 52.6% from the field but struggled with free throws (61.7%) and had no three-point threat (0% in some series), limiting his offensive versatility. Critics point to games where he’s neutralized by defensive schemes (e.g., Miami’s zone in 2023) as evidence his impact doesn’t always match his pay.

    Skill Set Limitations:

    • Giannis’ lack of a reliable jump shot or elite free-throw shooting (65.7% career) makes him predictable in crunch time. Teams like Toronto in 2019 and Miami in 2020-23 exploited this by building walls in the paint, forcing him to pass or shoot from outside. Some argue his one-dimensional offensive game (relying on drives and athleticism) doesn’t justify a salary that rivals more versatile stars like Kevin Durant or Stephen Curry, who can score from anywhere.

    Injury Concerns and Load Management:

    • Giannis has missed significant games due to injuries, playing 63 games in 2022-23 and 61 in 2023-24. His absence impacts the Bucks’ performance, and critics argue a player earning nearly $50 million annually should be more durable or available. For comparison, LeBron James, at a similar salary, played 71 games in 2023-24 at age 39. Injuries like his 2023 back bruise and 2024 calf strain in the playoffs fuel the narrative that his contract is a risk if he can’t stay on the court.

    Team Success Tied to Supporting Cast:

    • The Bucks’ 2021 championship relied heavily on Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday (now traded), and many argue Giannis’s individual dominance (e.g., 50 points in Game 6 of the Finals) is inflated by a strong supporting cast. Without elite teammates, his impact might not translate to titles, suggesting his salary overvalues his ability to carry a team single-handedly. The Bucks’ 49-33 record in 2023-24 and first-round exit despite adding Damian Lillard reinforce this for critics.

    Market Inflation and NBA Salary Cap:

    • Some view Giannis’s contract as a symptom of an inflated NBA market, where supermax deals are driven by loyalty and market size rather than pure value. The salary cap in 2023-24 was $136 million, meaning Giannis’s salary consumed ~33% of the Bucks’ cap. Critics argue this limits roster flexibility, forcing Milwaukee to rely on aging or overpaid role players, which hampers competitiveness. For context, Jayson Tatum’s $314 million deal (2024) sets a new benchmark, but Giannis’s deal was seen as oversized at signing.

    Is he worth it?

    The “overpaid” argument stems from Giannis’s playoff inconsistencies, limited shooting, injury history, and the sheer size of his contract in a small market. He is aggressively selling out to promote anything he can possibly promote right now, probably afraid that more failure will soon damage his brand.

  • Giannis Antetokounmpo: A Hypocrisy Debate

    Giannis Antetokounmpo: A Hypocrisy Debate

    1. Work Ethic vs. Practice Habits

    Giannis is renowned for his relentless work ethic, often sharing stories of his grind from a young immigrant in Greece to NBA stardom. He’s frequently praised for his dedication to improvement, whether it’s refining his jump shot or bulking up physically. However, critics have pointed to moments that seem to contradict this narrative.

    In 2023, reports surfaced from Bucks practices where Giannis was described as occasionally disengaged or skipping drills, particularly during the regular season. Former teammate Jae Crowder, in a subtle comment during a podcast, alluded to Giannis “picking his spots” in practice, implying he didn’t always match the intensity he publicly champions. While this could be strategic load management for a grueling 82-game season, it contrasts with Giannis’s public mantra of “working harder than everyone else.” Critics argue that if he’s vocal about outworking opponents, any perceived lack of effort, even in practice, undermines that claim.

    2. Humility vs. Public Boasts

    Giannis often portrays himself as grounded, crediting his family and upbringing for keeping him humble. He’s avoided the flashy persona of some NBA stars, endearing him to fans. Yet, there have been moments where his comments veer into self-aggrandisement, which some see as clashing with his humble image.

    A notable instance came during the 2021 NBA Finals post-game press conference after the Bucks’ championship win. Giannis remarked, “I didn’t take the easy way. I didn’t join a superteam,” a clear jab at players like Kevin Durant or LeBron James, who formed high-profile team-ups. While factually true—Giannis stayed with Milwaukee and won without a star-studded roster—the comment struck some as hypocritical. Critics noted that the Bucks had strategically built a strong supporting cast, including Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton, both All-Stars at points in their careers. Dismissing other players’ paths while ignoring his own team’s advantages seemed selective, especially for someone who claims to focus solely on his own journey. And of course he then went on to ask for Lillard, making it even more hypocritical!

    3. Sportsmanship vs. On-Court Antics

    Giannis is often lauded for his sportsmanship, but certain on-court behaviours have drawn scrutiny. His prolonged free-throw routines, which sometimes exceed the NBA’s 10-second rule, have frustrated opponents and fans alike. In a 2022 game against the Philadelphia 76ers, Joel Embiid publicly called out Giannis for taking upwards of 12 seconds per free throw, accusing him of bending the rules. Giannis responded by saying he’s “just playing within the game,” but critics argue that if he prides himself on integrity, exploiting a rule loophole undermines that.

    Additionally, Giannis’s occasional trash-talking, while not excessive, has been seen as inconsistent with his “let my game speak” persona. In a 2024 playoff series against the Indiana Pacers, he engaged in heated exchanges with Tyrese Haliburton, later downplaying it as “just competition.” Yet, when younger players like Haliburton talk trash, Giannis has been quick to call them out, suggesting a double standard. Most importantly of course Haliburton beat him where it counts – in the playoffs.

    4. Loyalty vs. Trade Rumours

    Giannis has repeatedly expressed loyalty to Milwaukee, stating he’d rather stay and build a legacy than chase rings elsewhere. This stance has won over Bucks fans, especially in a small market. However, in 2023 and 2024, Giannis made cryptic comments about his future, saying he’d consider leaving if the Bucks couldn’t compete for titles. While understandable from a competitive standpoint, these remarks clashed with his earlier vows of unwavering commitment.

    Some argue this is less hypocrisy and more pragmatism—an athlete hedging his bets. But for fans who bought into his “loyalty forever” narrative, the shift felt like a betrayal of his own words. Critics point out that Giannis wants the image of a loyal superstar but also the leverage to push management, a balancing act that can feel disingenuous.

    The Bigger Picture: Athletes and Public Expectations

    The hypocrisy debate around Giannis highlights a broader issue: the unrealistic expectations placed on athletes. Fans and media often demand consistency in behaviour, words, and values, ignoring the complexities of being a public figure. Giannis, like any person, can’t perfectly embody every trait he’s praised for—hard work, humility, sportsmanship, loyalty—at all times. What he does seem to lack is the intelligence in how he tries to cover up when he makes mistakes. In a different post for example I explained how his treatment of his children on social media makes no sense at all.

    Is Giannis Antetokounmpo a hypocrite? The answer depends on how strictly you define the term. There are undeniable instances where his actions or words don’t fully align with his public persona, from practice habits to loyalty comments.

  • The Myth of Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Mid-Range Shot part 4 : A Closer Look

    The Myth of Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Mid-Range Shot part 4 : A Closer Look

    Over the years, analysts and fans alike have speculated about the evolution of his game, with one narrative gaining traction: Giannis has developed a reliable mid-range shot. This claim, however, is more myth than reality. While Giannis has shown flashes of mid-range competence in certain situations, the idea that he has a consistent, game-changing mid-range jumper—especially in tougher matchups and high-stakes games—doesn’t hold up under scrutiny. 

    The Statistical Mirage, especially in games they lose

    To understand the myth, we first need to look at the numbers. Giannis has indeed increased his mid-range attempts over the years. According to NBA.com stats, in the 2020-21 season (his first MVP year with notable mid-range chatter), he took 2.1 mid-range shots per game, hitting them at a 41.8% clip. Fast forward to the 2023-24 season, and those numbers crept up slightly—2.5 attempts per game at a 43.1% success rate. On the surface, this looks like progress. For a player who once avoided the mid-range entirely, any improvement seems noteworthy.

    However, these stats are misleading without context. Giannis mid-range volume remains a tiny fraction of his overall shot diet. Compare that to true mid-range maestros like Kevin Durant (over 30% of his shots from mid-range in 2023-24) or Chris Paul (a career mid-range savant), and it’s clear Giannis isn’t relying on this shot as a weapon. It just doesn’t add up to points that matter. More importantly, his efficiency drops significantly when facing elite defenses. In the 2023 playoffs, for instance, his mid-range shooting

    plummeted to 36.4% against the Miami Heat, a team that clogged the paint and dared him to shoot. The numbers suggest competence in low-pressure scenarios—like regular-season games against weaker teams—but falter when the stakes rise. That pie chart on the right is his shots in losses. He turns to almost 80% dunking at the rim and forgets other distances.

    Using just official stats from NBA.com here is this season Giannis in the games the Bucks lost. 36.4% of his mid range shots go in.  Last season?  40.3% went in!  So he isn’t improving at all in fact!  If we filter for the harder matchups it gets even worse.  He is only slightly better at 10-14ft, all other distances in the mid range he is shooting worse than last season.   Alley oops, hook shots, finger rolls, layups, even dunk percentages are worse this season. 

    That is this season but look how much better he was last season!

     

    The Eye Test: Form and Function

    Beyond the stats, Giannis’ mid-range shot fails the eye test in tougher match ups. His jumper lacks the fluidity and consistency of players who thrive in that range. His shooting form—marked by a slow release, a slight hitch, and an awkward follow-through—telegraphs his intentions, giving defenders time to contest or recover. Against teams with length and discipline Giannis rarely pulls up confidently from 15 feet. Instead, he reverts to his bread and butter: bulldozing to the rim or kicking out to shooters.

    That table above shows clearly how much worse Giannis is this season in most types of shots. If you don’t believe me go to the source, the official stats and see for yourself. He even misses more dunks this year!

    Watch any high-stakes game, and the pattern emerges. In the 2021 Finals against the Phoenix Suns, Giannis attempted just 12 mid-range shots across six games, making five (41.7%). Most of his damage came at the rim (63.1% shooting on 84 attempts) or at the free-throw line (where he took a whopping 71 attempts). The mid-range was an afterthought, not a game-changer. Similarly, in the 2023 first-round loss to Miami, his mid-range attempts were sporadic and ineffective, often forced late in the shot clock rather than a deliberate part of Milwaukee’s strategy. Elite defenses know this and exploit it, sagging off him to protect the paint and living with the occasional jumper. Better still they keep him away from his favourite spots and he takes the bait, going to his bad side of the paint and missing.

    Why It Doesn’t Matter in Big Games

    The myth of Giannis’ mid-range development persists because it’s an appealing narrative. For a player with his physical gifts, adding a jumper would theoretically make him unstoppable. But in reality, it hasn’t—and doesn’t—materially affect games that matter. 

    1. Defensive Game Plans Don’t Change: Teams like Toronto (2019 ECF) and Miami (2020 and 2023 playoffs) built walls in the paint and begged Giannis to shoot from outside. His mid-range “improvement” hasn’t forced them to adjust. They still prioritize stopping his drives, and he hasn’t punished them enough to rethink that approach.

    2. Playoff Pressure Magnifies Weaknesses: In the regular season, Giannis can feast on weaker teams with poor rim protection, occasionally mixing in a mid-range jumper to keep them honest. But in the playoffs, against top-tier coaching and personnel, his lack of confidence and consistency from that range becomes glaring. He hesitates, overthinks, or abandons the shot entirely.

    3. Giannis is a liability in clutch. I outlined 5 very likely scenarios where Giannis should simply not be on the floor. He is shooting free throws worse than ever in his career. And 3points at a percentage that could be the worse for a season in NBA history. Yet he hasn’t got the basketball IQ to know to avoid them!

    The Narrative vs. Reality

    The idea that Giannis has “developed” a mid-range shot stems from a mix of selective highlights and wishful thinking. A pull-up jumper against the Charlotte Hornets in January gets replayed on SportsCenter, and suddenly he’s “expanding his game.” But those moments are outliers, not the norm. Analysts point to his work with shooting coaches or off season training clips, but the results don’t translate when it counts. The Bucks’ 2021 title run wasn’t fueled by mid-range mastery it was about Khris Middleton’s clutch shooting, Brook spreading the floor , a suffocating defence led by Jrue and a team that was one of the best from 3 that season.

    Contrast Giannis with players like Nikola Jokić or Jayson Tatum, who seamlessly weave mid-range shots into their playoff arsenals. Jokić’s floater and fadeaway are lethal against any defence; Tatum’s pull-up keeps opponents guessing. Giannis lacks that dimension. And in tougher match ups against teams that can match his physicality or scheme him out of the paint it shows.

    A Myth That Misses the Point

    Giannis Antetokounmpo doesn’t have a reliable mid-range shot, and the claim that he’s developed one is a myth propped up by small sample sizes and optimistic storytelling. In games that matter most—playoff battles against elite foes—his mid-range game is non-existent or inconsequential. Defenses don’t respect it, and he doesn’t lean on it.  If anything he is getting worse from mid range when it counts. So just stop regurgitating the myth, it isn’t helping Giannis at all.

  • Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Mid-Range Game: Part 3, a Media Myth Exposed

    Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Mid-Range Game: Part 3, a Media Myth Exposed

    There’s a narrative that’s been floating around lately that deserves a hard reality check: the idea that Giannis has a reliable mid-range game, especially when it matters most. Spoiler alert—he doesn’t. What we’ve been sold is a media myth, puffed up during a string of Milwaukee Bucks’ easy wins against overmatched opponents, and it crumbles under scrutiny when the stakes are high.

    Above the official nba.com stats of mid range shots this season. In red the players with the best fg%. In green the worse, ie Giannis at any distance. Let’s start with the hype. During the 2020-21 season, when the Bucks marched to the title, Giannis’ mid-range jumper became a talking point. Pundits gushed over his “improved” shot, pointing to regular-season games where he’d knock down a few 15-footers against teams like the Wizards or Pistons—squads that were either tanking or just plain bad. The narrative took off: Giannis had evolved, adding a new weapon to his arsenal. But here’s the inconvenient truth: when the playoffs roll around and defences tighten up, that mid-range game vanishes faster than a mirage in the desert.

    Take a look at the 2021 Finals against the Phoenix Suns. Giannis was phenomenal—50 points in the closeout Game 6 is the stuff of legend. But how many of those points came from the mid-range? A grand total of four, all from free throws or broken plays where he muscled his way into a shot. His bread and butter was what it’s always been: attacking the rim, drawing fouls, and living at the line (he shot 17-for-19 in that game). The mid-range? Non-existent when it counted. The Suns dared him to shoot from 10-15 feet, and he largely declined the invitation, opting instead to bulldoze his way inside.

    This isn’t a one-off. Fast forward to the 2023 playoffs against the Miami Heat. The Bucks, the No. 1 seed, got bounced in five games by an eighth-seeded Heat team that sagged off Giannis and begged him to shoot. His mid-range attempts were sporadic at best, and when he did take them, the results were ugly—clanging off the rim or airballing entirely. Miami’s defense exposed the truth: Giannis’ mid-range isn’t a weapon; it’s a liability teams are happy to let him test. He finished that series with a measly 38.3% field goal percentage, a far cry from the efficiency he boasts against weaker regular-season foes.

    The stats back this up. In the 2022-23 regular season, Giannis shot a respectable 47.3% from mid-range, per NBA.com. Sounds decent, right? Except that number drops precipitously in high-pressure playoff scenarios. Against top-tier defenses, his attempts shrink, and his makes plummet. Why? Because elite teams know he’s not comfortable there. They pack the paint, give him space, and live with the occasional make—because it’s not consistent enough to hurt them. The know the three spots he likes and they make him move off them. And he is so dumb he usually goes to the other side where he almost always misses.

    So where did this myth come from? Easy: the Bucks’ regular-season cakewalks. When you’re blowing out the Hornets by 30, Giannis can take his time, set his feet, and splash a couple of jumpers. The media eats it up, clips go viral, and suddenly he’s “unstoppable from anywhere.” But against real competition—teams with playoff-level schemes and discipline—that shot disappears. It’s not a coincidence; it’s a pattern.

    The table above is the total mid range shots this season. Again in red the best (ie Kevin Durant) and in green the worse, Giannis pretty near the worse for most distances. But more importantly, let’s count how many points that is. 0.6 from 5-9ft. 0.7 from 10-14ft. 1.5 at his favourite distance. And 0.1 further out. That is a grand total of 2.9 per game. To anyone that understands basketball that is essentially nothing. That has no impact. And it falls to 2.5 per game in losses. Oh you want his best year? Sure, here is the Bucks championship run year stats for shooting during the playoffs:

    Giannis is a superstar, no question. But let’s stop pretending he’s morphed into Kevin Durant or Chris Paul from the elbow. The mid-range game is a nice story, a feel-good arc for a player who’s already great. But when the chips are down, it’s nowhere to be found. The Bucks’ title run wasn’t built on Giannis pulling up from 15 feet—it was built on him bulldozing through defences and the supporting cast stepping up to shoot the lights out. The sooner we ditch this media-spun fairy tale, the sooner we can appreciate Giannis for what he truly is a run and dunk guy with less and less applicability to the modern NBA when it counts.

    Mid range part 2 is here

    Mid range part 1 is here

  • Why Bucks Fans Need to Temper Their Championship Hopes with Giannis

    Why Bucks Fans Need to Temper Their Championship Hopes with Giannis

    Milwaukee Bucks fans have been riding high on the Giannis Antetokounmpo wave for years, and it’s easy to see why. The Greek Freak is an athletic marvel who can dominate regular-season games with powerful dunks and stat lines that make MVP voters drool. Two MVP awards, a Defensive Player of the Year trophy, and a 2021 championship ring have cemented his status as a superstar. But here’s the cold, hard truth Bucks fans don’t want to hear: Giannis has never proven he can sustain elite performance in the playoffs over the long haul, and banking on him to deliver another title might just be a pipe dream. His stats have been steadily getting worse in almost every category since 2021 when it counts and the delusional fans choose to only look at the easy game stat line instead.

    Let’s start with the obvious: Giannis is a regular-season monster. His ability to bulldoze through defenders and rack up points in the paint is unmatched. But the playoffs? That’s a different beast. The postseason exposes weaknesses that regular-season stat-padding can mask, and for Giannis, those flaws have popped up time and again. His lack of a reliable jump shot, predictable offensive game, and struggles at the free-throw line have been exploited by smart teams who know how to game-plan against him. Bucks fans love to point to the 2021 title as proof of his greatness, but let’s not kid ourselves—that run had as much to do with luck and circumstance as it did with Giannis turning into some playoff juggernaut. Giannis sinks a three and they all start saying “ooooh, if he adds that to his toolset the league is screwed!” Only he doesn’t. Then in a run of easy games he scores a few mid range shots and again “oooooh, if Giannis gets a jumper that’s the end of the NBA!” Only he doesn’t.

    Take a closer look at that 2021 championship. The Bucks faced a hobbled Nets team in the second round, with Kyrie Irving injured and James Harden playing on one leg. In the Finals, they took down a gritty but outmatched Suns squad led by Chris Paul, who was 36 and running on fumes by that point. Giannis was phenomenal in the closeout game, dropping 50 points, including 17-of-19 from the free-throw line—a performance that’s more outlier than norm. Fans cling to that series like it’s the blueprint, but it’s the exception, not the rule. Before and since, Giannis’s playoff résumé is littered with disappointments that should give Milwaukee pause.

    Rewind to 2019. The Bucks were the No. 1 seed, Giannis was the MVP, and they got smoked by the Raptors in the Eastern Conference Finals, losing four straight after taking a 2-0 lead. Toronto built a wall in the paint, dared Giannis to shoot, and watched him flounder. Fast forward to 2020: the bubble. Milwaukee again had the best record in the East, and again, they choked—this time to the Heat in five games. Giannis averaged a pedestrian 21.8 points on 49% shooting, got shut down by Miami’s zone, and sprained his ankle, leaving the series early. It almost seems like he fakes injuries to avoid responsibility in the playoffs every time they get kicked out…. Even last year, 2024, with Damian Lillard on board, the Bucks bowed out in the first round to the Pacers. Giannis missed the series with a calf injury, sure, but his absence only underscored the team’s over-reliance on him—and his inability to stay on the floor when it matters most. Why? Because he consistently prefers to stat pad in easy regular season games, playing way too much in meaningless moments.

    The pattern is clear: Giannis thrives when the stakes are low and the defenses are vanilla. But in the playoffs, when teams have time to scheme and adjust, his limitations shine through. He’s a freight train with no brakes—devastating in a straight line, but easy to derail if you force him to change direction. His jumper remains a work in progress (career 28.6% from three and this season heading to the worse ever in NBA history), and his free-throw shooting is a liability that turns late-game situations into a coin toss (career 69.8%, dipping to 58.5% in the 2023 playoffs). Defences clog the paint, pack the lane, and live with him bricking shots from distance. Bucks fans scream about his heart and hustle, but heart doesn’t fix a broken offensive arsenal.

    And let’s talk about that supporting cast. The Bucks have tried to build around Giannis, but the results are shaky. Khris Middleton was a solid No. 2 when healthy, but injury-prone. Jrue Holiday was a perfect fit—until they traded him for Dame, whose defence is a downgrade and whose playoff clutch gene hasn’t exactly translated yet in Milwaukee because of the way Giannis plays mainly. The roster feels like a patchwork quilt, stitched together to mask Giannis’s flaws. Compare that to, say, the Celtics, who surround Jayson Tatum with shooters, defenders, and playmakers who complement his skill set. Milwaukee’s front office seems to think Giannis can will them to a title single-handedly, but the evidence says otherwise.

    Bucks fans might argue that Giannis is still young—30 isn’t old in today’s NBA—and that he’ll figure it out. But playoff success isn’t just about talent; it’s about adaptability, and Giannis hasn’t shown he can evolve when it counts. LeBron added a jumper. KD refined his off-ball game. Even Jokić, a plodding big man, developed a deadly midrange shot and passing wizardry to dissect playoff defenses. Giannis? He’s still slamming into walls, literally and figuratively, hoping raw power can overcome strategy. It worked once, but lightning doesn’t strike twice in the same spot often. The much hyped this season mid range is completely non existent in tougher regular season matchups so you can be sure it wont appear in the playoffs.

    The Eastern Conference isn’t getting any easier, either. Boston is a juggernaut. The Knicks are gritty and deep. Even younger teams like Cleveland and Orlando are on the rise. The Bucks’ window isn’t closed, but it’s creaking shut, and Giannis hasn’t proven he can carry them through that gauntlet with any consistency. Fans dreaming of another parade down Wisconsin Avenue are banking on a miracle—not a realistic assessment of their star’s postseason track record.

    So, Bucks faithful, enjoy the regular-season highlights. Cheer the dunks, the blocks, the MVP chants. Giannis is a freak show worth the price of admission. But a sustained playoff run to a championship? That’s a delusion built on one fluky title and a lot of wishful thinking. Until Giannis shows he can dominate when the lights are brightest—not just in spurts, but night after night against the best—Milwaukee’s hopes are more fantasy than destiny.

  • So what do people want to know about Giannis?

    So what do people want to know about Giannis?

    Well firstly he is:

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    But interestingly people search for him in relation to other teams like this too:

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    Some people look for matchups, video clips from when he had something with a famous other NBA player or someone spoke about him:

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    So Giannis’ effect on the game has probably past it’s prime as he deteriorates and the NBA moves on without him. But as a cultural phenomenon he continues!

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  • Giannis vs Melo: great example of propaganda that damages

    Giannis vs Melo: great example of propaganda that damages

    So this clip is doing the rounds with Bucks’ fans:

    Of course they cut out the part where Melo takes the ball straight from this “block” and scores a beautiful clean mid range getting nothing but net:

    For starters, why was Giannis even on the floor? Khris wasn’t in the fourth quarter of a blowout. There was no point but of course Giannis always trying to stat pad, eh? And then you wonder why he is injured again? Here are the Bucks’ points in the fourth quarter of this loss.

    I mention this because he still does it and he is again injured. This is a permanent problem with Giannis in the regular season, no basketball IQ. It is also clear in something else he still does.

    Giannis doesn’t understand angles in defence. At this stage of the game, OKC are clearly not even trying since they are twenty points ahead. They are loading on the right side mainly due to boredom and lack of effort. So Melo goes 1on1 against Giannis who essentially gives him 1/3 of the court! And because he is playing like he is, no other defender is covering (for example against the spin move). Giannis is dangerous for everyone on the court. In the regular season most just try to stay safe and away from him. What you call “an amazing recovery” I call a dangerous explosion for no good reason. It truly is like playing with a ten year old.

    Oh and of course it was goal tending! Here are the stats for last season, Giannis up there at 6th most goal tending whistles. (He gets away with some, like he got away with this one.)

    And of course Giannis was squarely beaten by Melo overall in the game. Not just the Bucks losing but Melo had solidly better contributions.

    Just to explain again, this is 100% goal tending. It doesn’t matter if it was still going up. Which it wasn’t. More like at the apex of the trajectory. But it is clearly over the cylinder of the rim, as per the rules.

    Remember these camera angles are behind the basket so the ball is at least half over the rim cylinder.

    But this isn’t even the worse regarding this clip. Because the Bucks promote it as proof of Giannis “amazing recovery speed”. But to summarise more objectively:

    1. Giannis was on the court for no good reason in a blowout loss.
    2. He fouled Melo multiple times before all this.
    3. He was playing defense all wrong one on one leaving 1/3 of the court free.
    4. Melo did a beautiful move on him that worked.
    5. Giannis clearly committed goal tending.
    6. Melo scored anyway.

    And THIS is paraded as a clip where we should be admiring Giannis? Do you all realize the damage you do to him like this? It is as if the entire basketball world treats Giannis like a spoilt child to whom nobody tells the truth.

    And now it is all falling apart because – as the Greek saying goes – “lies have short legs”.

  • Giannis mid range myth – part 2 (comparisons)

    Giannis mid range myth – part 2 (comparisons)

    Giannis in the paint is legendary, right? He sure takes more than anyone else in the ‘less than 5ft’ charts. There he is , first in most field goals made at less than 5ft by an enormous margin, he takes almost double the shots of anyone else in the league. 13.2 attempted, 9.4 made. If you think about it from the analytics perspective it is often a wasted effort, particularly since he misses the free throws earned like this so much. (Part 1 of this analysis here.)

    In red players more efficient than him. Yeah, yeah, no big thing, right? Let’s look at the next distance, as per nba. com categories of distances. This is a ‘mid range’ shot. Right, right, Giannis has no floater….and no sky hook. Oh and he is also nowhere in the top 20:

    Well let’s move out a bit more then. A very mid range shot 10-14 feet from the rim. No Giannis again.

    Oh but here we are! 15-19 feet distance. Of all the ‘mid range’ distances we could be talking about, for some reason Giannis media hype just look at this. OK, let’s look, yep, he is 2nd in most made. At pretty mediocre efficiency though. In red all the players above him at the top for this season so far.

    And in green above his total. A pathetic 1.6 shots. That’s 3.2 points per game. Is that worth all the fuss? Hell no, especially since as I explained here, Giannis forgets his mid range against harder defences or in the playoffs. Remember we are sorting by field goals made at that distance in order for Giannis to be No2 in the rankings. If we sort by field goal percentage at that same distance he is waaaaay down somewhere in the third page of results.

    And of course he is non existent in the next mid range distance, 20-24 feet.

    Giannis is also one of the worse 3point shooters in the history of the NBA (more on that here), so let’s not even go there. So where did this myth come from? Nba. com has a ‘mid range’ category elsewhere but doesn’t say what exactly they are measuring, let’s take a look.

    In red all the players with high field goals made numbers with better FG% than Giannis. Almost everybody. And remember, this is Giannis in the easy first half of the season, Bucks now have the 4th hardest schedule left in their season, so expect Giannis to fall to stats similar to last year. Which is nowhere near an ‘impressive’ mid range.

    STATS USED

    NBA. COM

  • Giannis’ mid range myth part 1

    Giannis’ mid range myth part 1

    Again today, in an easy match up which the Bucks won easily and Giannis had no opponent, people started talking about his mid range. It sure looked good when it went in, eh? Let’s look at the facts. (Part 2 of this here)

    Against the Jazz with no Hendricks , Juzang , Cody Williams , John Collins or Walker Kessler the Bucks were basically playing around as if in their gym. Even so, I would say the picture isn’t looking good. He missed three shots next to the rim. (In the orange circle I added.) And he scored 4/6 in the ‘mid range’. Oh and he wasted a 3point attempt.

    Because Giannis has no mid range. It is clear when he is actually being defended by someone. Even without Porzingis, on the 4th of December 2024 this is a more realistic look at Giannis’ mid range.

    He isn’t even scoring them so well right next to the rim against shorter opponents. And just 3/8 from the ‘mid’ range. And of course the wasted 3point shot as usual. And here is Giannis against the Knicks January 12th 2024. Even worse!

    This data is pretty solid. Here is the shot chart for Giannis over his career. He clearly has specific positions and can’t do anything with his left hand.

    And here is playoff Giannis. Which isn’t even counting tough matchups seeing as he has only progressed in the playoffs twice in his many years in the NBA.

    In the playoffs he is pretty much a one trick pony and head on down the middle. Why is this a problem? Because I am not the only one looking at this shot charts. Opponents know how to neutralise him. And they do when it counts.

    So save me the talk about “Giannis mid range” becoming a threat to the league. The only thing it threatens is to further confuse the Bucks into incorrect decisions on how they should play as a team. A weapon is only a weapon when it is consistent when you need it. Not in trash time against easy teams.

    DATA SOURCE

    STATMUSE. COM