StaTuesday: Antetokounmpo pointing Bucks offense in right direction
It's not often that big men possess the ball-handling skills needed to run an NBA offense.
But Giannis Antetokounmpo isn't like most NBA big men, as he's showed during his torrid stretch the past few weeks.
The 6-foot-11, 21-year-old has three triple-doubles and another near triple-double in his past eight games, running the Milwaukee Bucks' offense in place of the injured Michael Carter-Williams. Antetokounmpo has averaged 19.1 points, 10.3 rebounds and 7.8 assists per game in the 10 games since the All-Star break.
With three triple-doubles in 14 days, he passed Oscar Robertson for the best stretch in Bucks history. Robertson had three triple-doubles in a 24-day stretch in 1971. No Bucks player has ever had more than three in a season.
"He's getting a lot of confidence," Khris Middleton said of Antetokounmpo after the Bucks' 116-101 win Friday over Minnesota. "Playing in the point ... the ball's in his hands a lot. His confidence is growing. We need him to play at a high level to win games."
That confidence could especially be seen in Milwaukee's win over the Lakers on Feb. 22, during which Antetokounmpo scored 27 points on 12-of-17 shooting while dishing 10 assists and grabbing 12 rebounds. Kobe Bryant offered praise for the young star while talking to him and head coach Jason Kidd before the game. He also gave Antetokounmpo insight on what he needs to do to become a superstar.
"He has the potential to do it," Bryant said. "He has the physical tools, the intelligence. You know, now it's just a matter of him believing in himself and going after it, but he has the talent to be a great player."
Bryant also said Antetokounmpo needs to work on his shot, adding that he was able to sag against him on defense. Antetokounmpo has continued to struggle on his jump shot this season. He's shooting a career-best 49.8 percent overall but less than 30 percent on pull-up and catch-and-shoot attempts, according to NBA.com. He's also just 21.6 percent from 3-point range.
That said, the Bucks may not need Antetokounmpo to be the greatest shooter, as long as they have Middleton, Jabari Parker, O.J. Mayo and others who can continue to shoot well. His length often forces opponents to double team him, opening up passing lanes for Milwaukee's shooters.
The result has been a slight uptick in points per game for the Bucks since the All-Star break. The team is taking and making more shots and assists are up nearly one a game.
Kidd has not committed to playing Antetokounmpo at the point for the long term. But if the Greek Freak continues to play with the savvy he has shown, Kidd may have no choice but to employ the league's only full-time 6-11 point guard.
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