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  • How many top100 nba players have done worse than giannis in the playoffs?

    How many top100 nba players have done worse than giannis in the playoffs?

    While Giannis Antetokounmpo has indeed struggled with consistent playoff success, with six first-round exits in his ten playoff appearances (60% first-round exit rate) , a few more top 100 NBA players of all time have actually had worse or comparable playoff failures relative to their talent and expectations.

    Karl Malone – Often ranked in the top 15-20 all-time

    Karl Malone holds the unfortunate record for most playoff games (193) without winning a championship. Despite being a two-time MVP and reaching two Finals, he suffered multiple devastating losses:

    • Lost both Finals appearances to Michael Jordan’s Bulls (1997, 1998)
    • Had significant playoff efficiency drops compared to regular season performance
    • His transition-heavy style was less effective against disciplined playoff defenses

    Charles Barkley – Universally considered top 20-25 all-time

    Barkley had a worse playoff series record than Giannis, going 12-13 in playoff series throughout his career :

    • Only one Finals appearance (1993 loss to Bulls)
    • Eight first-round exits, compared to Giannis’s six
    • Career playoff record of 62-61, barely above .500

    Steve Nash – Two-time MVP, often ranked 30-40 all-time

    Nash never reached an NBA Finals despite his elite regular season success :cbc+1

    • Played 120 career playoff games without a championship
    • Series record of 11-12 in the playoffs
    • Multiple devastating playoff exits with Phoenix despite having superior teamsyoutubecbc

    Reggie Miller – Hall of Famer, top 50-75 all-time

    Miller’s playoff record was remarkably similar to current Giannis :

    • Series record of 14-15 in 29 playoff series
    • Eight first-round exits throughout career
    • Only one Finals appearance (2000 loss to Lakers)
    • Played 144 playoff games without winning a championship

    Patrick Ewing – Top 50 player, #1 draft pick with championship expectations

    Despite being the centerpiece of multiple strong Knicks teams, Ewing never won a championship :

    • Went 0-5 against Michael Jordan’s Bulls in playoff matchups
    • 139 career playoff games without a title
    • Known for several crucial playoff failures, including the infamous missed finger-roll

    Players with Similar or Slightly Better Records

    Chris Paul – Top 75 player, “Point God”

    Paul has had numerous devastating playoff collapses :

    • Record holder for most blown 2-0 playoff leads (4)
    • Series record barely above .500 at 72-68 overall
    • Only advanced past the second round twice in 13 playoff appearances
    • Eight first-round exits in his career

    James Harden – Former MVP, top 75 player

    Despite regular season excellence, Harden has underperformed in crucial playoff moments :

    • Multiple playoff collapses, including the infamous 2018 Western Conference Finals
    • Known for poor elimination game performances
    • Only one Finals appearance (2012 with OKC as sixth man)

    Recent Struggles in Context

    Giannis’s recent struggles three consecutive first-round exits from 2023-2025 are concerning. But while Giannis’s six first-round exits in ten appearances represent genuine playoff struggles, at least 5-7 other top 100 players had worse or comparable playoff failures relative to their talent and expectations. Players like Karl Malone, Charles Barkley, Steve Nash, Reggie Miller, and Patrick Ewing all had more devastating playoff careers when accounting for their lack of championships and multiple crushing defeats.

    Why Giannis Struggles in the Playoffs: A Comprehensive Analysis

    Giannis Antetokounmpo isn’t inherently “bad” in the playoffs—he still puts up impressive individual numbers—but he faces specific, exploitable weaknesses that championship-level teams have learned to target systematically. His playoff struggles stem from a combination of technical limitations, strategic vulnerabilities, and psychological factors that become magnified under postseason pressure.

    The Primary Weaknesses

    Free Throw Shooting: The Fatal Flaw

    Giannis’s most glaring weakness is his free throw shooting, which deteriorates significantly in the playoffs :

    • Career playoff free throw percentage: 62% compared to 69.3% in regular season
    • Recent playoff performance: As low as 57% in some series
    • Strategic impact: Teams deliberately foul him late in games, knowing he’s likely to miss

    His excessively long free throw routine (15-20 seconds per shot) creates mental pressure and allows fans to affect his concentration. The routine lacks fluidity and doesn’t mirror his actual shooting motion, making it essentially “not a basketball act”.

    The “Giannis Wall” Strategy

    Since 2019, teams have deployed a devastating defensive scheme called “The Wall” that has consistently neutralized his dominance :

    How it works:

    • Three defenders collapse on Giannis when he drives, forming a “wall”
    • Two additional defenders stay back to contest his kick-out passes
    • Forces him into difficult shots or turnovers

    Historical success against Giannis:

    • 2019 Raptors: Pioneered the strategy, won series 4-2
    • 2020 Heat: Perfected it, dominated series 4-1
    • 2022 Celtics: Used effectively despite losing 4-3
    • 2023-2025: Multiple teams continue using variations successfully

    Three-Point Shooting Vulnerability

    Teams actively encourage Giannis to shoot three-pointers, knowing it plays away from his strengths :

    • Recent playoff 3PT%: 25-27%, well below league average
    • Strategic exploitation: Defenses sag off him, daring him to shoot
    • Shot selection issues: Takes contested threes instead of driving when teams expect it

    Psychological and Tactical Factors

    Pressure and Decision-Making

    Giannis struggles with decision-making when facing intense playoff pressure :

    • Turnover increase: Higher turnover rate in playoffs, especially against walls
    • Forcing shots: Tends to force drives into set defenses rather than making correct passes
    • Takes it personally: Admits he gets emotional when facing “The Wall” strategy

    Supporting Cast Dependency

    Unlike other superstars, Giannis requires exceptional supporting cast performance to succeed :

    • 2021 championship context: Won with injured opponents (Nets’ Big 3, Lakers’ stars)
    • Recent struggles: When Middleton, Holiday, or Lillard struggle, Bucks lose
    • Role player reliance: Needs shooters to make open shots when he passes out of walls

    Screen Setting Deficiency

    An underrated weakness that affects team offense :

    • Poor technique: Sets “ghost screens” that don’t create real advantages
    • Low efficiency: Only 30th percentile as pick-and-roll roll man
    • Impact on teammates: Limits Damian Lillard’s effectiveness in pick-and-roll

    Why These Weaknesses Are Magnified in Playoffs

    Preparation Time

    Playoff teams have extensive time to study and prepare specific schemes :

    • Regular season success doesn’t translate when teams gameplan specifically for him
    • Coaches like Nick Nurse, Erik Spoelstra excel at exploiting these weaknesses systematically

    Defensive Intensity and Focus

    Playoff defenses are more disciplined and committed to executing complex schemes :

    • Teams willing to sacrifice individual defense to build effective walls
    • Better communication and rotation on defensive schemes
    • More physical play that disrupts his rhythm

    Clutch Moments and Mental Pressure

    High-stakes situations expose his technical limitations :

    • Free throw struggles become magnified in close games
    • Three-point shooting weakness limits late-game options
    • Increased pressure affects decision-making under duress

    The Championship Exception: 2021

    Giannis’s 2021 championship run succeeded because of unique circumstances :

    • Opponent injuries: Brooklyn’s Big 3 were injured, Lakers eliminated early
    • Supporting cast peak: Middleton and Holiday played at their highest level
    • Health: Giannis overcame his own knee injury to deliver historic Finals performance

    Giannis isn’t “bad” in the playoffs—he’s a victim of solvable basketball problems that he hasn’t adequately addressed. His combination of free throw struggles, three-point shooting deficiencies, and vulnerability to sophisticated defensive schemes creates a blueprint that disciplined playoff teams can exploit. Unlike transcendent playoff performers who elevate their games under pressure, Giannis’s technical limitations become more pronounced when facing elite, prepared defenses with months to gameplan specifically for his weaknesses.

  • Euro 2025 leaders in everything

    Euro 2025 leaders in everything

    Here is the list of players with the most total points in the 2025 FIBA EuroBasket, based on all games played up to this point:

    RankPlayerCountryGamesPointsPPG
    1Luka DončićSlovenia620434.0
    2Lauri MarkkanenFinland615626.0
    3Deni AvdijaIsrael614424.0
    4Jordan LoydPoland613823.0
    5Nikola JokicSerbia613422.3
    6Alperen SengunTürkiye613222.0
    7Franz WagnerGermany612420.7

    Here are the players with the most total rebounds in the 2025 FIBA EuroBasket, based on group phase statistics:

    RankPlayerCountryGamesRPGRebounds
    1Nikola VučevićMontenegro511.658
    2Tryggvi HlinasonIceland510.653
    3Alperen ŞengünTürkiye59.648
    4Nikola JokićSerbia59.246
    5Jusuf NurkićBosnia-Herz.59.045
    6Alen OmićSlovenia58.643
    7Lauri MarkkanenFinland58.241
    8Luka DončićSlovenia58.040

    Here are the players with the most total assists in the 2025 FIBA EuroBasket, based on current statistics:

    RankPlayerCountryGamesAPGAssists
    1Luka DončićSlovenia69.255
    2Dennis SchröderGermany68.652
    3Vasilije MicićSerbia68.048
    4Elie OkoboFrance66.539
    5Rokas JokubaitisLithuania46.325
    6Killian HayesFrance65.835

    Here are the players with the most steals in the 2025 FIBA EuroBasket based on current tournament statistics:

    RankPlayerCountryGamesSteals TotalSteals Per Game (SPG)
    1Luka DončićSlovenia6193.2
    2Dennis SchröderGermany6172.8

    Here are the players with the most blocks in the 2025 FIBA EuroBasket based on current official statistics:

    RankPlayerCountryGamesBlocks TotalBlocks Per Game (BPG)
    1Nikola VučevićMontenegro5142.8
    2Jusuf NurkićBosnia-Herzegovina5132.6
    3Alperen ŞengünTürkiye6122.0
    4Nikola JokićSerbia6111.8
    5Luka DončićSlovenia6101.7

    Here are the players with the highest efficiency ratings in the 2025 FIBA EuroBasket, based on current official statistics:

    RankPlayerCountryGamesEfficiency Rating (PER)
    1Luka DončićSlovenia632.5
    2Nikola JokićSerbia628.8
    3Lauri MarkkanenFinland626.3
    4Alperen SengunTürkiye625.4

    Here are the players with the highest free throw percentages in the 2025 FIBA EuroBasket (minimum attempts considered):

    RankPlayerCountryGamesFree Throw Percentage (FT%)
    1Mike JamesItaly696.7%
    2Shane LarkinTurkey694.3%
    3Luka DončićSlovenia693.5%
    4Dennis SchröderGermany692.8%
    5Lauri MarkkanenFinland691.0%

    Here are the players with the highest three-point shooting percentages in the 2025 FIBA EuroBasket (minimum attempts considered):

    RankPlayerCountryGamesThree-Point Percentage (3P%)
    1Rolands ŠmitsLatvia649.5%
    2Bogdan BogdanovićSerbia647.8%
    3Vlatko ČančarSlovenia646.2%
    4Shane LarkinTurkey645.0%
    5Kevin PangosFinland644.8%

  • The Ringer’s Top 100 NBA Player Rankings got a lot wrong

    The Ringer’s Top 100 NBA Player Rankings got a lot wrong

    The Ringer’s Top 100 NBA Player Rankings, hosted at nbarankings.theringer.com, aim to provide a dynamic, year-round evaluation of the NBA players making the most significant impact in the league. Updated regularly to reflect current performance, the rankings are a valuable resource for fans and analysts alike. However, the 2025 iteration of these rankings has sparked debate, particularly regarding the placement of Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo. While Giannis is undeniably a phenomenal physical talent, his high ranking—near the very top—raises questions about the methodology and criteria used, especially when his playoff impact is scrutinised.

    1. Overemphasis on Regular-Season Performance

    The Ringer’s rankings claim to reflect players “making the biggest impact on the league right now” (). However, the methodology appears to heavily favor regular-season statistics and accolades over playoff performance, which is arguably the true measure of a player’s impact in high-stakes scenarios. This is particularly evident in Giannis Antetokounmpo’s case. Giannis consistently posts gaudy regular-season numbers—averaging 30.4 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 6.5 assists in the 2022-23 season, for example, while leading the Bucks to the best record in the NBA. His ability to dominate with sheer athleticism and force makes him a regular-season juggernaut, but the rankings fail to adequately weigh his postseason shortcomings.

    In the 2025 playoffs, Giannis averaged an impressive 36 points in Game 1 against the Indiana Pacers, but his impact was limited by Milwaukee’s blowout loss and the team’s overall lack of cohesion (). The Bucks have not won a playoff game in which Giannis has played since Game 5 of the 2022 playoffs, going 0-5 in such games (). This pattern of playoff under performance—whether due to injuries, coaching mismatches, or roster limitations—suggests that Giannis’s ranking should reflect these struggles more heavily. The Ringer’s list, by prioritising regular-season dominance, risks inflating the value of players like Giannis who excel in less consequential games but falter when the stakes are highest.

    2. Giannis’s Playoff Limitations: A Case for a Lower Ranking

    Giannis Antetokounmpo’s playoff resume is a mixed bag, and The Ringer’s high ranking of him—often in the top 5, alongside players like Nikola Jokić and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander—overlooks critical weaknesses. While Giannis led the Bucks to a championship in 2021 with a historic 50-point performance in Game 6 of the Finals, his postseason success since then has been inconsistent. The Bucks have faced early-round exits in each of the last four postseasons (2022-2025), with injuries, poor roster construction, and tactical limitations playing significant roles.

    a. Injury Concerns and Availability

    Giannis has struggled with durability in recent playoffs. Since the 2021 championship, injuries to either himself or key teammates like Khris Middleton and Damian Lillard have derailed Milwaukee’s postseason aspirations (). In 2023, Giannis played in the Heat series but was hampered, and his team lost despite a 40-point, 20-rebound game (). In 2024, he missed significant playoff time, and in 2025, the Bucks’ Game 1 loss to the Pacers highlighted a lack of team support around him (). While injuries are not entirely within a player’s control, consistent absence or diminished performance in critical playoff moments should weigh heavily in rankings that claim to assess current impact.

    b. Tactical Limitations

    Giannis’s game, while dominant, has exploitable flaws in playoff settings. His lack of a reliable three-point shot (22.2% in 2024-25) and career-low 61.7% free-throw shooting make him vulnerable to defensive schemes that clog the paint and dare him to shoot (). Teams like the Miami Heat in 2023 and the Pacers in 2025 have capitalised on this, using physical defenders and zone schemes to neutralise his drives. The Ringer’s rankings do not seem to account for how these limitations reduce Giannis’ effectiveness in high-stakes games, where opponents can game-plan specifically to exploit his weaknesses.

    c. Supporting Cast and Coaching Mismatches

    The Ringer’s individual player rankings should consider how much of Giannis’ impact is diminished by his lack of ability to adapt to his playing environment. His high ranking feels like an endorsement of his individual stats rather than a holistic evaluation of his ability to elevate his team in the postseason. Which he obviously cannot do. Shouldn’t that be the most important thing in a team game?

    d. Comparison to Peers

    When compared to other top-tier players like Jokić, who led Denver to a championship in 2023 with a historically efficient offensive season (), or Gilgeous-Alexander, who has guided OKC to a dominant 2024-25 season (), Giannis’s playoff resume pales. Jokić’s versatility as a passer, shooter, and clutch performer makes him a more reliable playoff force, while Gilgeous-Alexander’s low turnover rate and ability to elevate teammates in big moments set him apart (). The Ringer’s failure to adjust Giannis’s ranking downward relative to these players suggests a bias toward his regular-season dominance and name recognition.

    3. Lack of Transparency in Ranking Methodology

    Another significant flaw in The Ringer’s rankings is the lack of clarity around how players are evaluated. The site describes the list as reflecting “the biggest impact on the league right now” but does not provide specific criteria, such as statistical weights, playoff performance, or qualitative factors like leadership or clutch play (). This opacity makes it difficult to understand why Giannis is ranked so highly despite his postseason struggles. For comparison, ESPN’s NBArank, which uses a panel of experts voting on player matchups, provides a clearer framework, even if it’s not perfect (). The Ringer’s rankings would benefit from a detailed explanation of how regular-season stats, playoff performance, and intangibles are balanced.

    4. Overvaluing Star Power and Narrative

    The Ringer’s rankings seem to lean heavily on star power and narrative, which may explain Giannis’s lofty placement. His transformation from a “gangly teenager to a modern-day Shaq” and his inspirational 2021 Finals run have cemented his status as a fan and media favorite (). However, this narrative-driven approach can overshadow objective analysis. Posts on X highlight skepticism about Giannis’s top-5 status, with users pointing out his poor shooting percentages (45/25% in some playoff series) and lack of playoff wins since 2022 (,). The Ringer’s rankings risk prioritizing Giannis’s brand and past achievements over his current playoff impact, which is inconsistent with the claim of evaluating “right now.”

    5. Broader Issues with the Rankings

    Beyond Giannis, The Ringer’s list has other issues that undermine its credibility:

    • Inconsistent Updates: While the rankings are described as “year-round, around-the-clock,” updates seem sporadic, with some entries dated months apart (e.g., February 27, 2025, and April 15, 2025) (,). This raises questions about whether the rankings truly reflect current performance.
    • Overranking Aging Stars: Players like Kevin Durant and LeBron James, ranked highly despite injury concerns and diminished playoff success, suggest a reliance on reputation rather than current output ().
    • Underrating Emerging Talent: Young players like Anthony Edwards and Victor Wembanyama, who are projected to dominate in the future, may be ranked lower than their current impact warrants due to a bias toward established names ().

    Conclusion: Reassessing Giannis and The Ringer’s Approach

    Giannis Antetokounmpo is a generational talent, but his high ranking in The Ringer’s Top 100 NBA Player Rankings is questionable given his recent playoff struggles. His injury history, tactical limitations, and reliance on a sub optimal supporting cast and coaching staff have hindered his postseason impact, yet the rankings do not seem to reflect these realities. Broader issues, such as the lack of transparent methodology, overemphasis on regular-season stats, and narrative-driven evaluations, further undermine the list’s credibility. To improve, The Ringer should clarify its criteria, give greater weight to playoff performance, and ensure rankings reflect current impact rather than past achievements or star power. Until then, Giannis’ placement near the top feels more like a nod to his regular-season dominance and fan appeal than a true measure of his league-wide impact.

  • No, Giannis is NOT the top NBA scorer since 2015

    No, Giannis is NOT the top NBA scorer since 2015

    Since the 2014-15 season, the NBA players with the best average points per game (PPG), with a minimum of 41 games played per 82 team games, are:

    1. Luka Dončić: 28.6 PPG (450 games)
    2. Joel Embiid: 27.7 PPG (452 games)
    3. Kevin Durant: 27.1 PPG (581 games)
    4. James Harden: 26.9 PPG (780 games)
    5. Stephen Curry: 26.9 PPG (690 games)
    6. LeBron James: 26.4 PPG (720 games)
    7. Damian Lillard: 26.3 PPG (736 games)

    If we include the playoffs (as we should) it looks like this:

    Luka Dončić: 28.9 PPG (505 games) Kevin Durant: 27.4 PPG (678 games) Joel Embiid: 27.4 PPG (511

    games) Stephen Curry: 27.0 PPG (826 games) LeBron James: 26.8 PPG (854 games) James Harden: 26.7 PPG (898 games) Damian Lillard: 26.2 PPG (793 games)

    Cherry picking statistics to try and make Giannis look good is a full time thing for some people on social media. “Most 30pt games” means nothing when, like this season, Giannis didn’t win a single game that mattered against top teams in the East. He simply does stat padding against easier opponents.

    A notable example is the 2023-24 season game against the Washington Wizards, where he scored 35 points and grabbed 15 rebounds but was accused of stat-padding in a blowout loss (117-94). Social media posts highlighted moments like Giannis taking unnecessary shots or pushing for rebounds late in decided games, suggesting he was chasing triple-doubles or scoring titles to bolster his MVP candidacy. This perception intensified after he reportedly lobbied to return to a game to secure a triple-double, as mentioned in a 2023 Athletic article.

    • Disrupts Team Chemistry: Chasing stats can lead to forced plays, reducing ball movement and sidelining teammates like Damian Lillard or Khris Middleton, who are critical to Milwaukee’s offense.
    • Undermines Strategy: In clutch moments, Giannis’ insistence on dominating the ball (e.g., taking contested shots or driving into crowded defenses) can override better play-calling, especially in playoffs where his 31.6% three-point shooting and 58.9% free-throw shooting (career playoff averages) are exploitable.
    • Sets a Poor Example: As a leader, prioritising personal stats over winning could demotivate role players or signal a lack of trust in the system, particularly under coaches like Doc Rivers, who emphasise structured play.

    Data from the 2024-25 season shows Giannis averaging 31.0 PPG, 12.1 RPG, and 5.9 APG on 60.7% FG, elite numbers that led to his ninth straight All-NBA nod. However, Milwaukee’s 48-34 record and first-round playoff exit against Indiana fueled criticism that his stat-heavy approach didn’t translate to postseason success. His usage rate (35.8%, second in the NBA) suggests he dominates possessions, potentially limiting Lillard’s playmaking (24.3 PPG, down from 32.2 the prior season).

    Where things really count are the NBA playoffs. Since the 2014-15 season, the NBA players with the highest average points per game (PPG) in the playoffs, with a minimum of 41 games played per 82 team games, are:

    Luka Dončić: 30.9 PPG (55 games)

    Kevin Durant: 29.6 PPG (97 games)

    LeBron James: 28.9 PPG (134 games)

    Donovan Mitchell: 28.3 PPG (63 games)

    Devin Booker: 28.0 PPG (47 games)

    Nikola Jokić: 27.5 PPG (93 games)

    Anthony Edwards: 27.4 PPG (37 games)

    Kawhi Leonard: 27.3 PPG (88 games)

    Stephen Curry: 27.2 PPG (136 games)

    Sure, this is summer and the traditional “will Giannis be traded” BS wars have begun. But maybe let’s check our stats before floating them out there?