Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks have faced a boatload of injuries since their championship year in 2021. Facing one injury after another to key players come postseason. Last season saw the Bucks’ front office be as aggressive as they’ve ever been in free agency. Trading their all-star point guard Jrue Holiday to the eventual champions Boston Celtics. Receiving a superstar in exchange. Damian Lillard.
The Damian Lillard trade has not yet reaped the success that the Milwaukee Buck fans have hoped for; however, it is as the old saying goes, “great things come with patience.” The Bucks have two of the premiere stars of today’s game on one team. Something only a handful of teams can say, as those teams are in the upper echelon of the Association.
Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard are primed for a comeback season. Coming off of a season filled with disappointment and underachievement. Meaning the two will be as focused as ever come October. Having a full season spent together under their belt, along with a full offseason to work. Antetokounmpo is coming off of arguably his best season. Even better than his two MVP seasons some would say. Below we will look at the illustrious career of Giannis Antetokounmpo, and how he somehow found himself flying under the radar.
Does Giannis Antetokounmpo Falls Victim to the Voter Fatigue?
If you were to go around the Association and ask players and coaches who the best player in the NBA was, it wouldn’t be long before you heard the name Giannis Antetokounmpo. Being one of the few NBA Superstars currently who affect the game both offensively and defensively. Having both an NBA Most Valuable Player Award and a Defensive Player of the Year Award. Making it hard for his impact not to be felt on a game-to-game basis.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is slowly starting to fall victim to the issue Lebron James has seemingly faced his entire career. Voter fatigue. Being at the point in his career that what he is doing is almost becoming expected of him. Making his accomplishments less and less appealing as they become more regular as the years go on. However, despite the lack of media appreciation Giannis has received, he is arguably coming off of the best season of his career. Averaging 30.4 PPG(2nd in NBA), 11.5 RPG(6th in NBA), and 6.5 ASTs(14th in the NBA). Putting up these averages with an insane 61.1 FG%. Making that the highest mark of his career. Also making last season the third season in a row Antetokounmpo has averaged 30 or more points per game. Showing that despite being seasoned, he isn’t done improving.
Giannis Antetokounmpo statistically had the best offensive season of his career. Finishing second in the NBA in points. An interesting fact for someone who has never been looked at as a scorer; however, despite not being a scorer, Antetokounmpo arguably has the biggest heart in the NBA. Making him so difficult to contain. Playing with an unmatched passion and relentlessness. Knowing no one can stop him on the path to the rim. Playing until the very last buzzer, and giving 100% at all times. Combine that with his skill and you have an all-time Great.
Has Giannis Become Underrated
Giannis Antetokounmpo is one of the few NBA MVPs who have also received the NBA’s Most Improved Award. An award many seem to forget due to his sheer dominance. Forgetting that Antetokounmpo was once a skinny young kid just trying to make his dreams come true. An insane fact to think about, as Antetokounmpo is often looked at as a modern-day version of NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal. With O’Neal cosigning the comparisons. Mentioning that Antetokounmpo is the player most like him in today’s game.
Earlier this week, a noticeable basketball page had this interesting question to ask. “Is Giannis Antetokounmpo a top 5 player in the NBA?” The basketball media page SleeperHoops posted to their X account “@Sleeper_Hoops.” This isn’t a shot at the media page; however, this further begs the question “Is Giannis Antetokounmpo underappreciated.” Or a better question. Is Giannis Antetokounmpo underrated?
What makes a player a top 5 NBA player? Is it skill? Winning? Whatever it is that defines a top 5 NBA player, Giannis Antetokounmpo belongs at the top. Coming off of arguably the best season of his career. Better than when he was widely considered the best player in the association. Basketball media personality Kenny Beecham, on his YouTube page “Kenny For Real, seems to believe that Giannis is becoming underrated. Mentioning his impactful last season that only rewarded him with 4th place in the MVP Conversation. Beecham goes on to give his take on what it means to be a top 5 NBA player. Claiming that the current three best players in basketball are, “Giannis, Luka, and Jokic in some order.” Claiming that Joel Embiid is the odd man out. Not because of talent, but because of post-season success.
Post-season success is one of the reasons that Giannis Antetokounmpo has slipped in people’s minds. Feeling he hasn’t done anything other than his 2021 championship. With a lot of fans feeling like his 2021 post-season was luck. Claiming that Kevin Durant’s Brooklyn Nets were the best team, and if his foot wasn’t on the line they’d represented the Eastern Conference in the NBA Championship. This issue with this take however is the lack of context. Giannis’s Bucks teams have been one of the most injured teams the last few seasons come playoff time. The last time we saw the Bucks fully healthy, was their 2021 post-season run. That saw Giannis Antetokounmpo finish with 50 points. In a closeout Game 6 win against the Phoenix Suns. Stamping him as a champion, and one of the modern-day Greats.
The Issue With Aesthetics and Basketball
As fans we often time overlook a player’s flaws if they are aesthetically pleasing to watch. Showcasing nice handles and making highlight plays. On the other side, we downplay a player for simply going out and doing their job. Guys like Steven Adams, Andre Drummond, Rudy Gobert, etc are all examples of players who impact the game in a “boring” way. Rebounding and protecting the rim. Little things that fans and media overlook for the more glamorous highlights.
Giannis Antetokounmp’s most notable NBA comparison is Shaquille O’Neal. Being a player who dominates the game with pure physicality. Relying on brute force rather than finesse. Antetokounmpo entered the league with a skinny frame; however, now he is looked at in the same light as Shaq. Showing just how much work Antetokounmpo has put in to make it to where he is today.
Many people find Giannis Antetokounmpo’s game to not be aesthetically pleasing. Often pointing out the famous clip of Antetokounmpo struggling to get past an aging Blake Griffin. However, the rebuttal to that is if it was easy everyone would do it. There are many other players in the league with similar measurables, but they aren’t Giannis.
Giannis Antetokounmpo has won nearly every award possible in the NBA. Showcasing pure dominance, and solidifying himself a modern era GOAT. You will not be able to speak of the modern era of basketball without shortly reaching Giannis. Coming off what is now his third season of 30 or more points per game. Good for 2nd place in the NBA last season. It should now be considered foolish to think Giannis has no skill. As it discredits the hard work Giannis has put his body through to get to this point.
It is undeniable Giannis Antetokounmpo is one of the best players in the NBA currently. Aesthetically pleasing or not. No, he may not have the jump shot of Stephen Curry or the footwork of Joel Embiid. But Giannis has the most unquantifiable trait, the will to win. Putting his body on the line time and time again to do just that. Giannis Antetokounmpo is not yet done improving. Coming off his best season to date. If Giannis worked this hard when nobody believed he would be a superstar, things are going to be interesting seeing how hard he works being overlooked.
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