It is easily measurable. His overall field goal percentage (FG%) decreases from 55.1% in the regular season to 53.2% in the playoffs. More pronounced drops are observed in his perimeter shooting and free throw accuracy. His three-point percentage (FG3%) falls from 28.4% in the regular season to 25.9% in the playoffs. The most significant decline is seen in his free throw percentage (FT%), which drops from 69.3% in the regular season to 62.5% in the playoffs. Consequently, his effective field goal percentage (eFG%), which accounts for the added value of three-pointers, also decreases from 57.0% to 55.1%.
These declines in key shooting efficiency metrics strongly support the hypothesis regarding a deterioration in shooting performance when the competition intensifies. The consistent reduction in accuracy from beyond the arc and at the free-throw line, despite his increased offensive volume, suggests that while he attempts to do more, the quality of his outside shots or execution under heightened pressure may be compromised. This indicates a clear vulnerability that opposing defences can exploit in high-stakes playoff environments.
Due to lack of bag he doesn’t really have a way to dictate what shots he takes. Compare regular season shooting by distances to the playoffs. Critically, his career playoff three-point percentage drops to 25.9% on a slightly increased share of attempts (14.9%).
The most pronounced and consistent decline is observed in his three-point shooting and, as previously
noted, his free-throw percentage. The slight increase in mid-range attempts during the playoffs could suggest that defensive strategies are more successful in forcing him away from his preferred at-rim scoring, compelling him to take more shots from these less efficient areas. The consistent drop in perimeter and free-throw shooting in the playoffs points to a critical area where opposing defences can effectively limit Giannis’s offensive versatility. By daring him to shoot from outside or fouling him, defences can force him into less efficient scoring methods, even if he still manages to generate high volume. This clearly demonstrates a causal relationship: increased defensive pressure in the playoffs leads to lower efficiency in his weaker shooting areas.
Even in the regular season however Giannis suffers. For the purpose of this analysis, “harder” regular season opponents are defined as teams with a winning percentage above.500. Conversely, “easier” opponents would typically be teams with a winning percentage below.500.
The significant drops in his overall Field Goal Percentage, Three-Point Percentage, and Free Throw Percentage in the playoffs highlight a clear vulnerability. Giannis is clearly past his prime of 5 years ago.
Even at the rim he is getting worse.
In his 2018-19 MVP campaign, he averaged 1.5 blocks and 1.3 steals per game. He is down in both these as he focuses more on personal stat padding than the team quite obviously. In defence he is simply prowling out of position looking for a highlight video. Giannis is clearly a player that is past him prime. Worse still he isn’t adding anything to his game. So when it counts opponents neutralise him. Or worse still, they let him get his 30 points for bragging rights but the way he is forced to play destroys his team’s chances of winning.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, the “Greek Freak,” is a two-time MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, and NBA champion. However, when the game is on the line—those critical “clutch” moments in the final minutes of a close game—Giannis has often been criticised for underperforming. His fans keep talking about that (one) 50 point performance. But they choose to ignore the true story.
Defining Clutch Situations
For clarity, “clutch” situations in this context refer to the last five minutes of a game (including overtime) where the score is within five points. This is a standard metric used by NBA analysts to evaluate performance under pressure. While Giannis excels in many facets of the game, his clutch-time performance has drawn scrutiny, particularly in high-stakes playoff games.
The Numbers: Giannis in the Clutch
To understand Giannis’ clutch performance, let’s look at some statistics. According to NBA.com’s advanced stats for the 2023-24 season, Giannis’ clutch-time performance reveals some concerning trends:
Field Goal Percentage (FG%): In clutch situations, Giannis shot 42.3% from the field, significantly lower than his season average of 61.1%. His efficiency drops when defenses tighten up.
Free Throw Shooting: Giannis’ free throw percentage in clutch moments was a dismal 58.7%, compared to his season average of 65.7%. This is particularly problematic since he often gets to the line in high-pressure situations.
Turnovers: Giannis averaged 1.2 turnovers per clutch game, a higher rate than his overall 3.4 turnovers per game, suggesting he struggles with decision-making under pressure.
Usage Rate: Giannis had a clutch usage rate of 38.2%, meaning he’s heavily involved in the Bucks’ offense during these moments, but his efficiency doesn’t match his volume.
In the playoffs, these issues become magnified. For example, in the 2023 NBA Playoffs against the Miami Heat, Giannis shot 2-for-7 (28.6%) in clutch situations and missed several key free throws, contributing to Milwaukee’s first-round exit. Over his playoff career, his clutch FG% sits at 39.8%, and his free throw percentage drops to 55.4%.
Why Does Giannis Struggle in the Clutch?
Several factors contribute to Giannis’ challenges in high-pressure situations. Let’s break them down:
1. Limited Jump Shooting
Giannis is a force in the paint, using his length and athleticism to dominate around the rim. However, his lack of a reliable jump shot—particularly from mid-range or beyond the arc—becomes a liability in clutch moments. Defenses often sag off him, daring him to shoot from outside. In the 2023-24 season, Giannis shot just 27.4% from three-point range and 34.1% on mid-range jumpers. In clutch situations, when defenses pack the paint or build a “wall” (a strategy popularized by the Toronto Raptors in 2019), Giannis struggles to create clean looks.
2. Free Throw Woes
Giannis’ free throw shooting has long been a weak point. His unorthodox, lengthy free throw routine (often exceeding the 10-second limit) seems to falter under pressure. In clutch situations, opponents frequently employ a “Hack-a-Giannis” strategy, fouling him intentionally to exploit his poor free throw shooting. Missing free throws in tight games not only costs points but also saps momentum and confidence.
3. Decision-Making Under Pressure
While Giannis is an excellent playmaker, averaging 5.9 assists per game in 2023-24, his decision-making in clutch moments can be erratic. He often forces drives into crowded defenses, leading to turnovers or low-percentage shots. In high-pressure situations, his tendency to over-penetrate rather than kick out to open teammates (like Damian Lillard or Khris Middleton) can stall the Bucks’ offense. For example, in Game 5 of the 2021 NBA Finals, Giannis had two turnovers in the final two minutes, nearly costing Milwaukee a pivotal game.
4. Defensive Attention
In clutch situations, opponents can focus their entire defensive scheme on stopping Giannis. Double-teams, triple-teams, and zone defenses are common, as teams are less concerned about role players in these moments. While Giannis is adept at handling double-teams in the regular season, the intensity of playoff defenses—combined with his limited outside shooting—makes it harder for him to find space.
5. Lack of a Go-To Move
Unlike clutch performers like Kevin Durant (pull-up jumper), Damian Lillard (deep three), or LeBron James (versatile scoring and playmaking), Giannis lacks a singular, reliable move in crunch time. His game is built on physicality and transition opportunities, but in half-court, high-pressure situations, he often resorts to bulldozing drives that are easier to defend when the game slows down.
Playoff Case Studies
Let’s examine two playoff series that underscore Giannis’ clutch struggles:
2020 Eastern Conference Semifinals vs. Miami Heat
In this series, the Heat’s zone defense and physicality flustered Giannis. In Game 4, with the Bucks trailing by 3 in the final minute, Giannis missed two free throws and turned the ball over on a forced drive, sealing Miami’s victory. He shot 1-for-5 in clutch situations across the series, with three turnovers.
2023 First Round vs. Miami Heat
Despite a heroic 38-point performance in Game 4, Giannis’ clutch miscues were costly. In the final minute of a tied game, he missed a contested layup and went 0-for-2 from the free throw line, allowing Miami to pull ahead. His clutch FG% in the series was 28.6%, and he missed 7 of 12 free throws in clutch moments.
How Can Giannis Improve?
For Giannis to become a more reliable clutch performer, several adjustments could help:
Develop a Jump Shot: Even a consistent mid-range jumper would force defenses to respect his outside game, opening up driving lanes.
Improve Free Throw Shooting: Simplifying his routine and practicing under pressure could boost his confidence at the line.
Better Decision-Making: Giannis should trust his teammates more in clutch moments, especially shooters like Lillard and Middleton.
Work on a Go-To Move: Developing a reliable fadeaway or post move could give him a fallback option when drives are cut off.
Giannis ain’t clutch and probably never will be
Giannis Antetokounmpo’s clutch-time struggles are a notable blemish which effectively make him useless for a team chasing a championship. Worse than useless, he is a liability. His lack of a jump shot, poor free throw shooting, and questionable decision-making in high-pressure moments have cost the Bucks in key games, particularly in the playoffs. He has rarely shown flashes of clutch ability, consistency remains elusive. With targeted improvements, Giannis could perhaps at least become less of a liability for his team. For now, though, the “Greek Freak” will keep hiding behind his team mates and pretending there is no problem.
All statistics are sourced from NBA.com and Basketball-Reference for the 2023-24 season and prior playoff performances.
When the game tightens up—when it’s the final minutes, the score’s close, and every possession counts—Giannis’s weaknesses can turn from minor quirks into glaring liabilities. Let me be specific:
Scenario 1: Down 2, 20 Seconds Left, Ball in Giannis’s Hands
Picture this: The Bucks are trailing by two points with 20 seconds on the clock. Giannis has the ball at the top of the key, the defence sagging off him, daring him to shoot. His career 28.6% from three-point range isn’t scaring anyone, and his mid range game isn’t a go-to weapon either (he shot 41.7% from 10-16 feet in 2023-24, per NBA.com). The opposing team knows he wants to drive, so they pack the paint, sending a double-team to clog his lane.
Here’s the problem: Giannis isn’t a natural pull-up shooter or a quick-trigger play maker. He might force a contested layup (where his 50% clutch field goal percentage from last season holds up decently), but if the help defence rotates, he’s left passing late to a teammate with no rhythm—think Brook Lopez bricking a rushed three. Worse, if he gets fouled on the drive, his 70.2% career free-throw clip (and 66.7% in clutch regular-season moments) isn’t a lock. A miss there, and the game’s over. His lack of a jump shot and shaky free throws make this a dicey spot. And all too often he takes the bait and either shoots a 3 or goes to the other side of the paint where he misses almost always.
Scenario 2: Tied Game, 10 Seconds Left, Inbound to Giannis
Now imagine a tie game, 10 seconds remaining, and the Bucks inbound to Giannis in the half-court. The defence knows Milwaukee wants him to attack the rim, so they build a wall—think Miami’s 2023 playoff strategy, where Bam Adebayo and Jimmy Butler funnelled him into traffic. Giannis’s Eurostep and spin moves are lethal in transition, but in a set defence with no runway, his options shrink.
His play making under pressure is a weak spot here. Giannis averaged 1.0 assist per clutch game in 2023-24, with a 1.5 assist-to-turnover ratio—not terrible, but not elite. He’s not LeBron, threading needles to open shooters, or Jokić, picking apart defences with surgical passes. If he can’t bulldoze his way to the rim (and at 40% in the 2023 playoffs, that’s no guarantee), he might cough up a turnover or settle for a low-percentage kick out. The clock ticks down, and the Bucks’ title hopes fade with it. All too often his passes are terrible, ie not where the receiver likes to catch it, thus reducing the chances of them scoring.
Scenario 3: Up 1, 30 Seconds Left, Giannis Gets Fouled
The Bucks are clinging to a one-point lead, 30 seconds to go, and Giannis gets hacked on a drive—his bread and butter, drawing 3.0 free-throw attempts per clutch game last season. This should be a golden opportunity: two shots to extend the lead to three, forcing the opponent to hit a tough bucket. But Giannis’s free-throw struggles turn this into a coin flip.
His 10-second routine at the line—complete with deep breaths and a slow wind-up—amps up the tension. In the 2023 playoffs, he shot 45.5% from the line in clutch moments, including a 1-for-4 dud in Game 4 against Miami that swung momentum. Miss both here, and the opponent gets the ball back with a chance to win. Even splitting the pair keeps it a one-possession game, inviting pressure on Milwaukee’s defence. For a player who lives at the line, this inconsistency is a dagger in crunch time. Clutch endings are a math calculation and Giannis is doing probably one of two free throws at best.
Scenario 4: Down 3, 5 Seconds Left, Giannis as the Decoy
Let’s flip the script: The Bucks are down three with five seconds left, and Damian Lillard is the primary option for a game-tying shot. Giannis sets a screen or lurks as a decoy, but the defence doesn’t bite. Why? They don’t fear his jumper. Teams can switch or sag off him, focusing their energy on Lillard. Giannis’s three-point shooting means he’s not a credible threat from deep, even in a catch-and-shoot spot. And he is one of the worse screeners in the NBA, he simply doesn’t understand angles and timing. He can’t sell it!
In the 2021 Finals, he hit a clutch three to tie Game 4 against Phoenix, but that’s the exception, not the rule. Without a reliable outside shot, Giannis can’t stretch the floor to create space for his teammates. The defence collapses, Lillard gets swarmed, and the Bucks’ season hangs on a prayer. Worse still the late pass and the way Giannis passes means the entire stadium knows ahead of time that Dame will have the ball and no clock left. Giannis’s gravity as a driver is immense, but in this specific late-game setup, his limitations shrink the playbook.
Finally, consider an overtime thriller, score within two points, one minute to go. Giannis has been a beast all game—say, 35 points and 15 rebounds—but he’s gassed. His motor is legendary, but clutch overtime minutes test even the fittest players. Here, his reliance on physicality over finesse catches up. Defences keep fouling him, knowing his free-throw percentage dips under fatigue (anecdotal, but his 2023 playoff clutch numbers suggest a trend).
If he’s not hitting free throws, the Bucks lose points they can’t afford. And if he’s too tired to explode past defenders, his lack of a pull-up game or off-the-dribble jumper leaves him stagnant. A turnover or a forced shot could seal Milwaukee’s fate, especially against a team with a closer like Kevin Durant or Jayson Tatum, who thrive in these wars of attrition. This is issue is made much worse by the fact that Giannis lacks the basketball IQ to know himself and he still demands the ball!
Why These Weaknesses Matter
Giannis’s clutch flaws—no jumper, shaky free throws, and average play making—aren’t fatal in isolation. He may still rarely dominate late games when the stars align (see: 2021 Finals Game 6, 50 points, title clinched). But in these specific situations, they expose cracks that savvy opponents exploit. Teams like the Heat or Celtics have the personnel—mobile bigs, smart wings, and physicality—to turn Giannis’s strengths into weaknesses when the clock’s ticking. Giannis does not seem to be able to think fast enough at a high level and it shows under pressure.
The Bucks have tried to mask this with Lillard’s arrival, but injuries and coaching adjustments haven’t solved the puzzle. Giannis is a liability in the broad sense and in these clutch moments, his game can falter just enough to tip the scales, or quite often he fails in a spectacular way with dumb turnovers and mistakes even a rookie would not make which leave everybody scratching their heads. After a decade in the NBA he seems worse than ever in high pressure situations.
Can He Fix It?
At 30, Giannis seems unable to evolve. A more consistent free-throw stroke (aim for 80%) and a workable mid range jumper could flip these scenarios in his favour. He’s shown flashes—41.7% from 10-16 feet last season is progress—but it’s not second nature yet. Until then, these clutch situations will remain his kryptonite, and the Bucks’ title hopes will hinge on how well they scheme around them.
The Numbers: What Do They Say?
Clutch time in the NBA is defined as the last five minutes of a game (including overtime) where the score is within five points. It’s the crucible where legacies are forged—or tarnished. So, how does Giannis stack up?
In the 2023-24 regular season, Giannis averaged 2.0 points per game in clutch situations, shooting 50% from the field and 66.7% from the free-throw line, according to NBA.com’s advanced stats. That field goal percentage is solid—better than many star players—but the free-throw number raises eyebrows. For a player who lives at the line (he attempted 3.0 free throws per clutch game), 66.7% isn’t elite. Compare that to someone like Damian Lillard, his Bucks co-star, who shot 92.3% from the line in clutch moments last season, and you see a gap.
Playoff clutch stats paint a starker picture. In the 2023 postseason, Giannis’s Bucks crashed out in the first round against the Miami Heat. In clutch situations across those five games, he shot 4-for-10 from the field (40%) and a dismal 5-for-11 from the line (45.5%). Small sample size, sure, but those misses loomed large—especially in Game 4, where he went 1-for-4 from the stripe in a tight loss.
Contrast this with the 2021 Finals, where Giannis was a monster. In Game 6 against the Suns, he dropped 50 points, including 17-for-19 from the free-throw line, sealing the Bucks’ first title in 50 years. Clutch? Absolutely. But that performance feels like an outlier when you zoom out across his career.
The Eye Test: Where Giannis Struggles
Stats only tell part of the story. Watching Giannis in clutch moments reveals a pattern that frustrates fans and analysts alike. His game, built on physical dominance and transition brilliance, doesn’t always translate to the half-court grind of late-game scenarios. Defences shrink the floor, pack the paint, and dare him to shoot—or foul him and test his free-throw stroke.
Take the 2024 playoffs as an example (assuming the Bucks made a run this year—let’s project based on trends). Giannis often finds himself with the ball at the top of the key, dribbling out the clock, only to force a contested drive or kick it out late to a teammate. His lack of a reliable jump shot—career 28.6% from three—means teams don’t respect him beyond the arc. They sag off, clogging his driving lanes and turning him into a predictable one-trick pony.
Then there’s the free-throw routine. Giannis’s 10-second wind-up at the line is a meme at this point, but it’s more than a punchline—it’s a liability. In clutch moments, every second counts, and his slow pace disrupts rhythm. Worse, his career 70.2% free-throw percentage drops under pressure, as we saw in 2023 against Miami. When the game’s tight, those misses aren’t just points left on the board—they’re momentum killers.
Verdict: Liability or Misunderstood Asset?
So, is Giannis a liability in clutch time? The answer isn’t black-and-white. He’s not a natural closer in the mould of a Damian Lillard or Steph Curry, and his limitations—free-throw woes, lack of a jumper, and occasional tunnel vision—can hurt in tight games. Defences have a blueprint to neutralise him, and he hasn’t consistently cracked it.
If Milwaukee wants to maximise Giannis in crunch time, they need to lean on Lillard’s shot-making and design sets that play to Giannis’s strengths—cuts, rolls, and transition—not his weaknesses. Until then, the Greek Freak will remain a polarising figure in the clutch debate
In the Giannis fan boy world there is a 50point Finals performance that ends discussions. But in the NBA that’s not how it works. These are the top clutch performers this season when a game is 5 points difference or less for the last 5 minutes of the game.
For any Joker comparing Giannis to Jokic, yes, Jokic is at the top of this and here are Giannis pathetic stats for the same thing:
Giannis has half the points in clutch this season and with much, much, much worse percentages all across the board. He basically doesn’t know what to do under pressure. We have all seen him. He panics, it is pitiful. It used to be Khris saving him, now he just gives the ball to Dame all the time. Heck even Jaylen Brown has more clutch points and a much better plus minus (+46) than Giannis. (+19)
But we all know it is worse than just those numbers. Because Giannis makes terrible mistakes under pressure. We have seen it again and again. When the Bucks are behind or tied he is much worse. Here are the top this season:
Giannis is waaay down in the 3d page of results, 104th in the NBA when his team is behind or tied in the last five minutes. He simply can’t operate.
The numbers look even worse for Giannis when you filter for the last 1 minute of the games or the last 2 minutes. He knows he can’t think fast but still…everyone has made him think he can. Even though you can see it in his position and in his body language that he isn’t even sure what is going on.
Giannis started playing basketball late in life. He simply doesn’t have the automatic reflexes that the others do. He can’t even comprehend any advanced plays or adjust to the finer points of angles and timing. For those that want to compare him to Wemby (here more on that) here are all the players in Giannis’ position compared, Giannis is 39th and compares terribly to a rookie ten years younger than him in clutch situations!
Giannis has more assists because he is chicken shit in clutch. And all this even though he is on a superior team (pre Fox trade) that has more wins in such close games.
It is one more reason why most serious contenders don’t want Giannis. He is only good for regular season try harding. Maybe as Steph gets older he would want him in the regular season so he can rest. Then in games that matter bench him.
