In NBA analytics, some stats cut through the hype and reveal uncomfortable truths. The “BEAST ON THE BOARDS” chart illustrates how star big men’s presence impacts their team’s rebound percentages. Players like Steven Adams (+19.1 OREB%, +18.5 TREB%) and Nikola Jokic (+3.1, +6.2) boost their squads, living up to their reputations as rebounding forces. But then there’s Giannis Antetokounmpo, with negative differentials: -3.1 OREB% and -0.2 TREB%. This isn’t a glitch—it’s a pattern that questions the “Greek Freak’s” true impact.
Giannis posts gaudy individual numbers, averaging double-digit rebounds most seasons, but the team’s rebounding suffers when he’s on the floor. Why? It’s not just about team dynamics; it’s tied to Giannis’ evolving priorities, defensive shortcomings, and a focus on personal stats over team success. Since his 2019-20 Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) award, his defence has declined, he’s emphasised offence, chased highlights, and padded rebounds—often at the expense of cohesive play. Let’s break it down with data and context.
Understanding On-Off Rebound Percentages
Before we dissect Giannis’ case, let’s clarify the stat. Rebound percentage measures the share of available rebounds a team (or player) secures while on the court. It’s more insightful than raw rebounds because it accounts for pace and opportunities—after all, a fast-paced game might have more misses, but the percentage normalizes that.
OREB%: The percentage of a team’s own missed shots that they rebound (offensive rebounds / (offensive rebounds + opponent’s defensive rebounds)).
TREB%: The overall rebound percentage, combining offensive and defensive boards.
The “on-off differential” compares the team’s performance in these metrics when a player is on the court versus off. A positive number means the team rebounds better with the player playing; a negative means they rebound better without them.
Data from sites like Cleaning the Glass shows this isn’t a one-off fluke for Giannis. In the 2021-22 season (which aligns closely with the chart’s numbers, showing -2.8 OREB% on-off), and other years like 2018-19 (-1.2%) and 2020-21 (-1.9%), Giannis posted negative differentials. Yet, in more recent seasons like 2023-24 (+2.6 OREB%) and 2024-25 (+1.8%), it’s flipped positive. So, what’s going on?
Giannis’ Individual Stats: Impressive, But Inflated?
Giannis ranks among the league’s top rebounders, but scrutiny reveals issues:
Season
Rebounds Per Game (RPG)
Total Rebound % (TRB%)
Defensive Rating (DRtg)
Defensive BPM (DBPM)
2019-20
13.6
21.4%
97
4.1
2020-21
11.0
18.5%
107
2.8
2021-22
11.6
19.2%
106
3.5
2022-23
11.8
19.8%
108
2.7
2023-24
11.5
18.8%
112
2.4
2024-25
11.9
19.5%
109
2.5
(Source: Basketball-Reference)
His RPG and TRB% are solid, but notice the defensive metrics. Post-DPOY (where he posted a league-best 97 DRtg), his DRtg has worsened to 107-112, indicating more points allowed per 100 possessions. DBPM, measuring defensive impact, dropped from 4.1 to as low as 2.4. This decline correlates with negative rebound diffs, as poor defence leads to more opponent makes—and fewer rebound chances.
The Shift: From Defensive Anchor to Offensive Focus
Giannis won DPOY in 2019-20 as a versatile defender, using his 7-foot wingspan for help defence and rim protection. But since then, his effort has waned. Analysts note he’s prioritised offence over grinding on D. Bucks’ schemes rely on him as a free safety, but he often chases “highlight reel” plays—spectacular blocks or steals—instead of sticking to plans.
This individualism disrupts team rebounding. Teammates “clear out” on misses, letting Giannis grab easy defensive boards to pad stats, rather than contesting collectively. A notorious 2023 incident saw him intentionally miss a shot for his own rebound to secure a triple-double, later rescinded by the NBA amid “stat-padding” backlash. Fans and media called it “shameless,” highlighting a pattern where personal milestones trump team efficiency.
Defensive Shortcomings: Speed, Switching, and Fundamentals
Giannis’ late start in basketball—he didn’t play organised ball until age 13 in Greece—shows in his reflexes and scheme comprehension. Unlike peers who honed instincts young, he struggles with complex switches in modern pick-and-roll defences. He’s not fast enough laterally to guard perimeter threats, often getting blown by or mispositioned. This leads to breakdowns: Opponents exploit gaps, leading to more makes and fewer Bucks rebounds.
In high-pace lineups with Giannis, the team leaks out for transitions, but his defensive lapses mean more opponent scores—reducing OREB% opportunities. Bench units, without him, play more structured, grabbing boards at higher rates. Social media discussions echo this: “Giannis was only ever a helpside defender… not much of a rim protector.” His blocks (around 1-1.5/game post-DPOY) are flashy but don’t anchor like Gobert’s.
Lineup and Opponent Factors: Excuses or Reality?
Sure, roster changes matter—Brook Lopez’s injuries forced adjustments, and backups like Bobby Portis (16.5% TRB% in 2021-22) feast in non-Giannis minutes. But this masks Giannis’ issues. He faces starters, but his declining DBPM suggests he’s not elevating the unit. Bucks’ overall TREB% (50-52%) is average, but negatives persist because Giannis’ style—offence-first, stat-chasing—trades team rebounding for personal glory.
He’s in his prime physically but coasting defensively.
Time for Accountability
Giannis’ negative on-off rebound diffs aren’t a paradox—they’re a symptom of prioritising offence, highlights, and stats over defence and team play. His late basketball start hampers reflexes in schemes, and rebound “padding” inflates numbers while hurting the Bucks. Milwaukee won in 2021 despite this, but as defences evolve, Giannis must recommit defensively. In 2025-26, under Doc Rivers, watch if he adapts—or if the illusion crumbles further.
The narrative among some Milwaukee Bucks fans that the Eastern Conference in the NBA will be “wide open” next season is a hopeful but misguided belief. This theory often hinges on the idea that the Bucks, led by Giannis Antetokounmpo, can dominate the regular season and cruise through a supposedly weakened East in the playoffs. However, this perspective ignores the competitive depth of the conference and, more critically, Giannis’s consistent postseason shortcomings. Despite his undeniable talent and regular-season dominance, Giannis’s playoff performances over the past three seasons reveal significant flaws—stagnation in skill development, low basketball IQ in high-pressure moments, and a self-focused style that hampers team success. Below, we dissect why the “wide open East” narrative is delusional and why Giannis’s postseason struggles make the Bucks an unreliable playoff contender.
The Eastern Conference is Far From “Wide Open”
The notion that the East is “wide open” assumes a lack of elite competition, but the 2025-26 Eastern Conference landscape suggests otherwise. Several teams have strengthened their rosters, and the conference remains stacked with talent and depth.
Established Powerhouses and Rising Contenders
Boston Celtics: The recent champions boast a strong core and supporting cast . Their versatility, defensive prowess, and playoff experience make them perennial favourites. Boston’s ability to adjust schemes and exploit mismatches—especially against teams like the Bucks—ensures they remain a formidable obstacle.
New York Knicks: The Knicks have built a gritty, defensively sound team around Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby, a playoff juggernaut. New York’s physicality and depth exploit Milwaukee’s lack of perimeter creation.
Cleveland Cavaliers and Indiana Pacers: Both teams have young, dynamic cores. Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley, paired with a strong defensive system, make them a tough out. Indiana’s fast-paced offense exposed Milwaukee’s defensive weaknesses in the 2024 playoffs, and they’re only improving.
Miami Heat and Others: Miami’s culture under Erik Spoelstra ensures they’re always a playoff threat. Emerging teams like the Orlando Magic, with Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, add further depth to the conference.
The East is not a free-for-all; it’s a gauntlet. The idea that the Bucks can waltz through this field ignores the reality of these teams’ talent, coaching, and playoff-ready systems.
Bucks fans point to Giannis’s regular-season dominance as evidence of their playoff potential. While Milwaukee often secures a top-3 seed (they finished 49-33 in 2024-25, third in the East), regular-season success is a poor predictor of playoff outcomes. The postseason demands adaptability, clutch performance, and team synergy—areas where Giannis and the Bucks have consistently fallen short.
Giannis’s Postseason Struggles: A Three-Year Pattern
Giannis Antetokounmpo’s postseason performances over the last three seasons (2022-2025) reveal critical weaknesses that prevent the Bucks from being true contenders.
Lack of Skill Development
Giannis’s game has stagnated since his 2021 championship run. While he remains a force in the regular season (averaging 29.5 points, 11.6 rebounds, and 6.5 assists in 2024-25), his playoff production often comes with inefficiencies and predictable patterns:
Limited Shooting Range: Giannis’s jump shot remains unreliable. In the 2024 playoffs against Indiana, he shot 0% from three (0-for-7) and 61.7% from the free-throw line, allowing defences to sag off him and clog the paint. His inability to develop a consistent mid-range or three-point shot makes him easier to scheme against in high-stakes games.
Poor Half-Court Offence: In playoff settings, where games slow down and half-court execution is critical, Giannis struggles. His reliance on bull-rushing to the rim is neutralised by teams that build a wall (e.g., Toronto in 2019, Miami in 2020, Indiana in 2024). Without a go-to move or counters, he becomes predictable.
Turnovers in Clutch Moments: Giannis’s decision-making under pressure is suspect. In the 2023 playoffs against Miami, he averaged 3.6 turnovers per game, often forcing drives into crowded lanes or making errant passes. This trend continued in 2024, with 3.8 turnovers per game against Indiana.
Low Basketball IQ in High-Pressure Situations
Giannis’s basketball IQ, particularly in the playoffs, has been exposed repeatedly:
Poor Shot Selection: In clutch moments, Giannis often opts for low-percentage plays, such as contested drives or rushed shots, rather than finding open teammates. In Game 5 of the 2023 Miami series, his late-game turnover and missed free throws were pivotal in Milwaukee’s collapse.
Inability to Read Defenses: Playoff teams exploit Giannis’s tendencies by doubling him early or forcing him to pass. His slow processing in these situations leads to hesitation, turnovers, or forced shots. For example, in the 2024 Indiana series, the Pacers’ zone defence flustered Giannis, limiting his efficiency (53.3% true shooting percentage).
Lack of Adjustments: Unlike players like LeBron James or Nikola Jokić, who adapt to defensive schemes, Giannis rarely adjusts his approach. He continues to rely on physicality, which wanes against playoff-level defences and officiating.
Total inability to improve. It has been a decade now and Giannis has shown absolutely no sign of being able to improve anything at all for the elite level. He conquers and dominates in easy match ups that don’t count only.
Selfish Play and Lack of Team Building
The Bucks’ roster construction and Giannis’s playing style exacerbate their postseason issues:
Stat-Padding Over Team Play: Critics argue Giannis prioritises individual stats over team success. In the 2024 regular season, he often hunted for points and rebounds, leading to inefficient possessions. For instance, his 38.8% usage rate in the playoffs often left teammates like Damian Lillard underutilized (Lillard averaged only 16.7 shots per game in the 2024 postseason despite being a proven closer).
Poor Synergy with Teammates: Giannis’s ball-dominant style clashed with Lillard’s need for the ball. In the 2024 playoffs, the Bucks’ offence stagnated when Giannis forced drives instead of leveraging Lillard’s shooting or Khris Middleton’s mid-range game. His unwillingness to play off-ball limits Milwaukee’s offensive versatility.
Leadership and Culture Issues: Giannis’s public comments, such as questioning teammates’ effort or coaching decisions (e.g., after the 2023 Miami loss), suggest a lack of accountability. His focus on individual accolades over team cohesion undermines Milwaukee’s ability to build a championship culture.
Why the Bucks Fail in the Playoffs
The Bucks’ postseason failures aren’t solely on Giannis, but his limitations are a significant factor:
Defensive Exploits: Playoff teams target Giannis’s weaknesses. Indiana’s pace-and-space offense in 2024 exposed his struggles to guard in space, while Miami’s zone in 2023 neutralized his interior dominance.
Lack of Clutch Scoring: Unlike Tatum, Brunson, or Embiid, Giannis lacks a reliable go-to move in crunch time. His 58.7% free-throw shooting in the 2024 playoffs allowed opponents to foul him late without fear.
Roster Mismatches: The Bucks’ supporting cast, while talented, doesn’t complement Giannis’s style. Lillard’s defensive limitations and Middleton’s injury history leave Milwaukee vulnerable. Giannis’s inability to elevate lesser teammates (unlike Jokić or Luka Dončić) compounds these issues.
So no, the Bucks ain’t closer to anything
The “wide open East” narrative is a delusion born of optimism rather than evidence. The Eastern Conference is loaded with teams that have the talent, coaching, and versatility to outmatch Milwaukee in a seven-game series. Giannis Antetokounmpo’s postseason struggles—stemming from stagnant skill development, low basketball IQ in clutch moments, and a selfish playing style—cap the Bucks’ ceiling. While Giannis can carry Milwaukee to a top-3 seed in the regular season, his inability to adapt and elevate his team in high-pressure playoff games makes them a flawed contender. Bucks fans hoping for a championship run must confront these realities: the East is a gauntlet, and Giannis’s postseason shortcomings are a persistent barrier to success.
During the regular season a myth developed that Giannis had somehow started shooting mid range. It was completely inaccurate and I have debunked it with multiple posts. The summary is that he regressed to his usual terrible form and it was only during a stretch of easy games that he shot well from two very specific spots on the floor. As soon as a team stepped up their defence he lost it. Completely.
The Bucks lost to every single top ranked team in the East even during the regular season. In those games Giannis had no mid range. He is a two trick pony and that’s what he turns to quite predictably.
On the left as per the official statistics from nba.com the distances
considered “mid range” broken down for the playoffs. And remember, Giannis only had one series in the first round so if anything, his statistics should look much better than players that played more games further along as the playoffs got more difficult.
5-9feet? Nope. Giannis nowhere to be found. 10-14 ft? Of course not. And what about that one distance he had any success in the easier games in the regular season? 15-19ft. Surely, Giannis must have shot at least something from that distance?
Not even that. When under pressure Giannis can only do one thing. Go to the rim. And it doesn’t really work when he doesn’t get a foul and/or he then missed the free throws.
And of course the closer we get to the 3point line, the worse Giannis is. So no, Giannis has no mid range. Not when it counts. If anything he is getting worse at 3point percentage (worse ever almost in a single season) and free throws.
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:
Point Guard (PG): The primary ball-handler, playmaker, and floor general, responsible for initiating the offense and distributing the ball.
Shooting Guard (SG): Typically a perimeter-oriented player focused on scoring, often via outside shooting or driving.
Small Forward (SF): A versatile wing player who balances scoring, defense, and sometimes playmaking.
Power Forward (PF): A frontcourt player who combines physicality, rebounding, and scoring, often in the post or mid-range.
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:
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
The narrative that Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Milwaukee Bucks’ two-time MVP and NBA champion, “needs help” has been a persistent talking point among fans, analysts, and media. Every playoff disappointment or regular-season struggle prompts calls for the Bucks to acquire another superstar or bolster their roster to support their franchise player. However, this perspective oversimplifies the Bucks’ challenges and ignores a critical truth: Giannis himself is often a significant factor in the team’s shortcomings. While his dominance is undeniable, his playstyle, decision-making, and limitations contribute to Milwaukee’s struggles more than the lack of “help” around him.
The Myth of Insufficient Support
The argument that Giannis lacks adequate support often stems from the Bucks’ playoff exits, such as their first-round loss to the Miami Heat in 2023 or their 2024 defeat to the Indiana Pacers. Critics point to the roster, claiming it fails to complement Giannis’s skill set. However, this overlooks the quality of players Milwaukee has assembled. Khris Middleton, a three-time All-Star, has been a reliable second option, averaging 20.1 points per game in the 2022-23 season with a knack for clutch shot-making. Jrue Holiday, before his trade to Boston, was a Defensive Player of the Year candidate and a steady playmaker. Damian Lillard, acquired in 2023, is one of the league’s premier offensive engines, averaging 24.3 points and 7.0 assists in his first season with Milwaukee. Brook Lopez, a Defensive Player of the Year finalist, anchors the paint, while players like Bobby Portis and Pat Connaughton provide depth.
This is not a barren roster. The Bucks’ supporting cast has consistently ranked among the league’s better ensembles, with Milwaukee finishing the 2022-23 season with the NBA’s best record (58-24). Blaming the roster ignores the fact that teams like the 2023 Heat or 2024 Pacers, who ousted Milwaukee, were not necessarily more talented but executed better. The issue isn’t a lack of talent around Giannis—it’s how his playstyle interacts with that talent.
Giannis’s Playstyle: A Double-Edged Sword
Giannis is a force of nature, a 6’11” freight train who combines athleticism, length, and defensive versatility in the past. His ability to drive to the rim, collapse defences, and finish through contact is impressive, evidenced by his career average of 22.9 points per game on 54.7% shooting (as of the 2024-25 season). However, his approach, while devastating, creates challenges that hinder the Bucks in critical moments. When it counts, Giannis comes up short.
Over-Reliance on Drives
Giannis’s game revolves around attacking the basket, often bulldozing through defenders to score or draw fouls. He led the NBA in free-throw attempts per game (11.0) in the 2022-23 season, a testament to his rim pressure. But this one-dimensional approach allows opponents to game-plan effectively. Teams like the Heat and Raptors (in 2019) have employed the “Giannis Wall,” packing the paint with multiple defenders to neutralize his drives. Without a consistent outside shot—his three-point percentage hovers around 27.7% for his career—Giannis struggles when teams dare him to shoot.
This predictability forces the Bucks into stagnant offensive sets. When Giannis barrels into a crowded paint, it often results in turnovers (3.1 per game career average) or low-percentage shots. His insistence on driving, even against set defenses, disrupts Milwaukee’s flow, limiting opportunities for shooters like Lillard or Middleton to exploit open looks. Compare this to players like Nikola Jokić, who blends scoring with elite playmaking (9.0 assists per game in 2023-24), or Kevin Durant, whose mid-range and three-point shooting keep defenses honest. Giannis’s tunnel vision on drives can stifle his team’s offense, making it easier for opponents to dictate the game’s pace.
Free-Throw Struggles and Pace Issues
Giannis’s free-throw shooting, while improved, remains a liability at 65.8% for his career. In high-stakes playoff games, this weakness is magnified. Opponents often employ Hack-a-Giannis strategies, slowing the game and disrupting Milwaukee’s rhythm. His lengthy free-throw routine—often exceeding the 10-second limit—further bogs down the pace, frustrating teammates and fans alike. In the 2023 playoffs, Giannis shot 45.3% from the line against Miami, a glaring issue in tight games.
This slow pace clashes with the modern NBA’s emphasis on speed and spacing. The Bucks ranked 19th in pace (98.5 possessions per game) in 2023-24, limiting their ability to capitalize on transition opportunities where Giannis thrives. His dominance in the half-court often comes at the expense of fluid team play, as teammates stand idle while he attempts to overpower defenders. Giannis simply can’t change the way he plays resulting in the entire team suffering.
Decision-Making in Crunch Time
Giannis’s decision-making in clutch situations is another area where he contributes to Milwaukee’s struggles. His choices in critical moments often falter. In the 2021 championship run, Giannis was phenomenal, but Middleton and Holiday frequently bailed him out in clutch scenarios. Fast forward to 2024, and his 4.4 turnovers per game in the playoffs against Indiana highlighted a recurring issue: forcing plays under pressure. Giannis simply can’t think fast enough when it counts, “he has no bag” for the top level of the NBA.
For example, in Game 5 of the 2023 Heat series, Giannis attempted a game-tying drive with seconds remaining, only to be stripped in traffic, leading to a turnover. A better decision—passing to an open Middleton or Lopez—might have changed the outcome. His reluctance to defer, even when double- or triple-teamed, puts undue pressure on his teammates to compensate for his mistakes. Contrast this with LeBron James, who, despite similar defensive attention, averages 7.4 assists per game by finding open teammates. Giannis’s assist average (5.7 in 2023-24) is solid but doesn’t reflect the same level of trust in his supporting cast.
The Coaching Carousel and Giannis’s Influence
The Bucks’ coaching instability—Mike Budenholzer’s firing in 2023, Adrian Griffin’s midseason dismissal in 2024, and Doc Rivers’ uneven tenure—points to another issue tied to Giannis. Reports suggest Giannis has significant influence over team decisions, from roster moves to coaching hires. The trade for Lillard, while a coup, was reportedly driven by Giannis’s desire for a co-star, yet the fit has been clunky. Lillard’s ball-dominant style clashes with Giannis’s need for touches, leading to a disjointed offense (Milwaukee’s offensive rating dropped from 113.3 in 2022-23 to 112.4 in 2023-24).
Giannis’s reported push for Griffin’s hiring, followed by his quick dismissal, suggests a lack of clarity in his vision for the team. This meddling, while not uncommon for superstars, disrupts continuity. The Bucks’ roster and system are built around Giannis’s strengths, but his influence often prioritizes his comfort over team synergy. For instance, the Bucks’ heavy reliance on drop-coverage defense, tailored to Giannis’s rim protection, limits their ability to switch and adapt against versatile offenses like Miami’s or Boston’s.
Statistical Context: Giannis’s Impact vs. Efficiency
To quantify Giannis’s role in Milwaukee’s struggles, consider his advanced metrics. His usage rate (31.2% in 2023-24) is among the league’s highest, reflecting his ball-dominant style. However, his true shooting percentage (61.3%) lags behind players like Jokić (63.1%) or Anthony Davis (62.4%), who balance efficiency with playmaking. Giannis’s high usage often comes at the expense of teammates’ involvement, as evidenced by Middleton’s shot attempts dropping from 15.1 per game in 2022-23 to 13.0 in 2023-24 despite similar minutes.
Defensively his tendency to roam for highlight plays can leave the Bucks vulnerable, especially against pick-and-roll-heavy teams. In the 2024 playoffs, Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton exploited Milwaukee’s drop coverage, averaging 8.7 assists per game. Giannis’s defensive discipline still wanes in crucial moments, contributing to breakdowns.
The Counterargument: Does Giannis Really Need Help?
Defenders of the “Giannis needs help” narrative argue that no superstar can win alone. They point to Milwaukee’s injury issues—Middleton’s ankle problems in 2023, Giannis’s own calf injury in 2024—as evidence that the roster fails him in key moments. They also note that Lillard’s defensive limitations and Middleton’s inconsistency place too much burden on Giannis.
While injuries are a factor, they don’t fully excuse the Bucks’ failures. Teams like the 2023 Nuggets and 2024 Celtics overcame injuries through system cohesion and star adaptability. Giannis, by contrast, often sticks to his strengths rather than adjusting to opponents’ schemes. His refusal to develop a reliable jumper or refine his play making limits Milwaukee’s ceiling, regardless of who’s on the roster.
Giannis Must Evolve and fans need to stop making up excuses for him
The “Giannis needs help” narrative is a convenient scapegoat that shifts focus from the real issue: Giannis’s own limitations are a significant driver of Milwaukee’s problems. His predictable play style, clutch-time struggles, and influence over team decisions create challenges that no amount of roster tinkering can fully resolve. While he’s a generational talent, Giannis must evolve—whether by developing a jumper, improving his free-throw shooting, or trusting his teammates more in crunch time—to maximize the Bucks’ potential.
The Bucks don’t need another superstar; they need Giannis to address the gaps in his game and adapt to modern NBA demands. Until then, the narrative that he “needs help” will persist, but it’s a distraction from the truth: Giannis is both the Bucks’ greatest asset and, at times, their biggest obstacle.
Stats and data referenced are accurate as of the 2024-25 NBA season and sourced from Basketball-Reference and NBA.com.
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.
The video “The Giannis Offense: How a New Style Took Over the NBA” boldly asserts that a revolutionary basketball strategy—coined the “Giannis offence”—emerged around 2019 and has since transformed the NBA. It credits Giannis Antetokounmpo and coach Mike Budenholzer with pioneering a system where big, athletic, non-shooting forwards initiate from outside, leveraging modern spacing to attack downhill. While the video’s enthusiasm for Giannis’ impact is infectious, its arguments crumble under scrutiny. From exaggerated claims of novelty to shaky stats and historical revisionism, this piece is more hype than substance. Let’s tear it apart.
Claim 1: A “Completely New Offence” Born in 2019
The video’s cornerstone is that Giannis and Budenholzer unleashed a “completely new offence” in 2019, driven by spacing and downhill attacks from big forwards. This is a stretch. The idea of a big man handling the ball and attacking from the perimeter isn’t new—it’s been evolving for decades. The video itself admits this, citing LeBron James as a “prototype” with his 2007 playoff drives and 2014 inverted pick-and-rolls in Miami. If LeBron was doing it 12 years earlier, how “new” can this be?
What’s really happening here is an evolution, not a revolution. The NBA’s spacing boom—fuelled by the three-point explosion—started well before 2019. The 2014-15 Golden State Warriors, with their small-ball lineups and Draymond Green initiating from the top, were already exploiting space for downhill drives. The video glosses over this, cherry-picking 2019 as a starting point because it aligns with Giannis’ first MVP season. But correlation isn’t causation. Spacing and transition attacks were trending league-wide; Giannis just rode the wave. And if anything his change of style these past seasons show that even Giannis has given up, focusing more on stat padding by going to the rim.
Claim 2: Giannis’ Screening Drop Proves the Shift
The video touts a stat: Giannis went from setting 26 screens per 100 possessions in 2017 to 9 in 2019, implying this reflects a radical shift to a “downhill” role. This sounds compelling—until you dig into it. Screening stats are notoriously context-dependent. In 2017, under Jason Kidd, the Bucks ran a clunky, post-heavy offence with Giannis often parked near the paint. By 2019, Budenholzer’s system emphasised pace and space, reducing Giannis’ need to screen because shooters like Brook Lopez pulled defenders away. And let’s be honest, years later, Giannis can’t screen. In fact non cherry picked data from basketball Index show him to be one of the worse on ball screeners in the league. He simply doesn’t understand angles.
But here’s the kicker: Giannis’ screening drop doesn’t uniquely signal a “new offence.” Bigs across the league set fewer screens as spacing increased. Per NBA tracking data (available through 2025), screen frequency for forwards league-wide dipped as teams prioritised early offence over half-court sets. Giannis’ numbers reflect a league trend, not a bespoke innovation. The video’s stat is a flashy distraction, not proof.
Claim 3: The “Giannis Offense” Is Distinct from Guard-Led Systems
The video contrasts Giannis’ style with guard-led offences (e.g., Steph Curry or Damian Lillard pulling up from deep), framing it as a “big man who couldn’t shoot” flipping the script. This oversimplifies things. Giannis’ downhill attacks rely on the same principles as guard-led systems: spacing, transition, and exploiting mismatches. The difference is scale, not substance. Curry uses speed and shooting; Giannis uses length and power. Both thrive because defences are stretched thin by the three-point line. After all the Bucks always had the best 3point shooting around Giannis in order to work. (Even if he is heading for the worse 3pt% season in NBA history this year!)
The video’s insistence on a binary—guards shoot, bigs slash—ignores overlap. LeBron, a big wing, shot jumpers and attacked downhill. Anthony Davis, a centre, has run pick-and-rolls as a ball-handler since his New Orleans days. The “Giannis offence” isn’t a distinct species; it’s a variation on a theme the NBA’s been playing since the mid-2010s.
Claim 4: Historical Examples Support the Narrative
The video name-drops Michael Jordan (1991 Finals) and LeBron (2007 vs. Detroit) as precursors, suggesting their downhill drives planted seeds for Giannis. This is historical cherry-picking at its finest. Jordan’s drive was a clutch iso play, not a system. LeBron’s Game 5 heroics leaned on spacing, sure, but he was a one-man show, not a template for bigs. These moments don’t foreshadow a “Giannis offense”—they’re just great players making great plays.
Meanwhile, the video skips real antecedents. What about Magic Johnson, a 6’9” point guard who ran transition attacks in the 1980s? Or Charles Barkley, bulldozing downhill in Phoenix’s fast-paced 1990s system? The NBA’s had big, athletic ball-handlers attacking space forever. Giannis refined it, but he didn’t invent it. And there is a reason Giannis is getting worse at almost everything from a stat point of view: it was not sustainable.
Claim 5: 12% of 2025 Possessions Prove Its Rise
The video cites “tracking data” claiming 12% of NBA possessions in 2025 involve a forward or centre running an inverted pick-and-roll or iso drive, with teams like the Grizzlies (19%) and 2021 Pelicans (20%) leading the charge. This sounds precise—until you realise it’s flimsy. First, it’s unclear what “tracking data” means (no source is given). Second, 12% isn’t an “explosion”—it’s a modest slice of a league still dominated by pick-and-rolls (over 50% of possessions, per public stats).
The Grizzlies and Pelicans examples don’t help. Jaren Jackson Jr. and Zion Williamson are downhill threats, but their teams blend this with traditional actions. Memphis leans on Ja Morant’s pick-and-roll wizardry; New Orleans pairs Zion with shooters like CJ McCollum. The “Giannis offence” isn’t taking over—it’s a complementary tool, not a paradigm shift.
Claim 6: Non-Shooters Uniquely Benefit
The video argues this style is “the other side of the shooting revolution,” where non-shooters like Giannis thrive with space. This is half-true but overstated. Non-shooters benefit from spacing—duh. But the video ignores how defences adapt. In the 2019 playoffs, Toronto’s “Giannis rules” (walling off the paint) exposed his lack of a jumper. Even if he had improved as a passer, non-shooters still hit ceilings in half-court settings. The 2021 Finals kickouts the video praises? That’s Giannis adapting to old-school defence, not a new offence breaking the mould.
Simmons’ decline—blamed on “back pain and free throw phobia”—further undermines this. His downhill game faltered not just from injury, but because teams sagged off him, daring him to shoot. Non-shooters need elite skills elsewhere to make this work. It’s not a universal hack. This season much fuss has been made about Giannis supposed mid range, pick a lane!
Claim 7: Modern Examples Validate the Trend
The video lists Zion, Jaren Jackson Jr., Deni Avdija, Jonathan Kuminga, and others as “disciples” of this offence. This is a grab-bag of players with different styles. Zion’s a bulldozer, yes, but his injuries and team context limit the comparison. Jackson Jr. shoots 35% from three—hardly a non-shooter. Avdija’s “turbo” drives are fun, but Portland’s offence doesn’t revolve around him. Kuminga’s vision struggles (noted in the video) make him a poor fit for the play making this supposedly demands.
These players use spacing to attack, sure. But calling it a cohesive “Giannis offence” is forced. Pascal Siakam turning his back to the basket? That’s post play, not downhill slashing. Evan Mobley and Anthony Davis running inverted pick-and-rolls? That’s just good coaching, not a new gospel.
The Real Story: Evolution, Not Invention
Here’s the truth: Giannis is a freak with size and speed. Budenholzer’s system—pace, three-point shooting, and early offence—amplified him. But this isn’t a “new offence” born in 2019. It’s an adaptation of trends (spacing, transition, versatility) that were already reshaping the NBA. The video’s narrative is a tidy story, but it’s built on hype, selective stats, and a shaky grasp of history.
Why This Matters
This video isn’t malicious—it’s just sloppy. It’s the kind of content that sounds smart until you poke at it. In 2025, with data and film at our fingertips, we deserve better than overblown claims and mattress ads masquerading as analysis. Giannis was incredible; but his impact is diminishing in modern NBA basketball. As I argue in this blog every day, the championship was an incredible fluke. A lucky outlier. Since then Giannis has never proven himself when it really counts. Hell, I seriously believe he has faked his injuries to avoid seeming a fool in the playoffs. Teams can shut him down, hell, you don’t even need a wall anymore, just one defender that knows Giannis’ two and only moves. Anyone want to rewatch Draymond Green on him recently?
So let’s not rewrite basketball history to sell a narrative—or a hybrid firm mattress.
———-Comments on the video comments – a summary with my take ———————–
Giannis: A One-Dimensional Crutch for Non-Shooters
@chickenfriedlobster claims Giannis has “transformed” how big men play, but what’s really transformed here? He’s just a tall guy who can’t shoot, leaning on modern spacing to mask his limitations. LeBron, as @solidussly7 and @timlett99 note, did this with a jumper and elite passing—Giannis is a poor man’s version, exploiting a gimmick that only works because defences are handcuffed by today’s rules (@nydibs credits defensive 3-seconds, not skill). @sebastianleung2897 hails his ball-handling and finishing, but isn’t that just athleticism papering over a lack of real guard skills? This “revolution” feels like a lifeline for players too stubborn to develop a shot.
A Flashy Fad, Not a Foundation
The video traces this downhill style to LeBron and Jordan (@Tomtainius), but @17thN.O’s “7-foot Russell Westbrook” jab under Budenholzer stings—Giannis is a transition bully, not a tactician. @Mitthrawnudo asks about Chet and Wemby, but Chet’s barely used this way, and Wemby’s too smart to lean on such a basic play. Even @Mitthrawnudo prefers Franz Wagner’s finesse over Paolo Banchero’s plodding—Giannis’s “offence” might already be passé. @Homer-OJ-Simpson ties it to lax rules (no hand-checking, extra steps), suggesting it’s less innovation, more loophole exploitation.
The “Disciples”: Pale Imitations
The comment section’s obsession with Giannis’s “disciples” feels desperate. @Fahronaces mentions Jalen Johnson, but injuries derailed that. @Damasen13 wants Bam Adebayo in this role, yet Miami’s smarter than that (@jady4L ties Bam to Draymond, not Giannis). @TheNamesDitto and @VitalyGutkovich prop up Deni Avdija, but “Turbo” sounds more like a marketing ploy than a threat (@GG-vl7rn). @fresnoniiji clings to Jonathan Kuminga’s potential, but @vicvinegarLLC’s “hold right trigger” dig exposes his brainless aggression. @smz257’s Scottie Barnes take reeks of wishful thinking—Giannis with LeBron’s passing? Please. Giannis has the worse assist to turnover ratio in the league. Even @jdrmanmusiqking’s Tyreke Evans nod implies Giannis stole the act.
Underrated? Or Overrated?
Fans like @ualreadykno2K (third in MVP races) and @Apcjrahdocr (tier 1 for seven seasons) prop up Giannis’s consistency, but @nile1790’s 30-11-6 stat feels hollow—where’s the hardware? He crumbles when it counts. @constablekennedy7705 and @johndenver7035 cry “slept on,” yet @colewrld901 lists endless excuses: injuries, Middleton, Dame. @SwashBuckler311 compares him to Kareem, but one ring doesn’t match that legacy. @nigelee and @kumpadri marvel at his strides, but @stevenwhiters8928’s coordination point cuts both ways—most 6’11” guys don’t need to dribble because they have actual skills.
Tactical Hype Outpaces Reality
@Tomtainius loves the inverted pick-and-roll, but it’s a highlight reel crutch, not genius. @vanhoot2234’s handle focus ignores Giannis’s clunky decision-making. @bnsz8704 and @pinobluevogel6458 laud spacing evolution, but @loooooop-2’s SGA twist shows smaller guys do it better. @Apcjrahdocr’s Mobley-JJJ fantasy is a pipe dream—Giannis’s system collapses with another non-shooter (@video). @bubasaba credits Jason Kidd, but Budenholzer’s the one stuck with this one-note plan (@kumpadri).
A Fading Freak Show
@deetschicken’s praise for Thinking Basketball’s innovation-spotting feels misplaced—this “offence” is a footnote, not a chapter (@Ljrubbo1). @aryamanmani4025 and @bradenstewart6270 fawn over the ad and delivery, but the substance? Thin. @dennisrossonero calls it a legacy, but @SapienGalore’s “too many 3s” jab hints at a league moving on. Giannis is a freak (@ShakataelBebesito), but @waff6ix’s “best PF ever” take over Duncan or KG is laughable. This is less revolution, more a temporary exploit—soon, defences will adjust, and the “Giannis Offense” will be a relic.
Let me just add, it’s not “soon” it’s here already. Giannis is obsolete.
