Milwaukee Bucks: Key Issues Facing The Bucks’ Core Pieces
By Adam Coffman
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Can he deal with the new expectations of stardom?
If they weren’t before, the training wheels are officially off for Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Greek’s meteoric rise three years into his career has paid off in the form of a four year, $100 million near-max extension signed last month.
Still at just 21 years old, Antetokounmpo has to be considered the face of the franchise going forward, and one of the league’s brightest young stars to boot. The Freak’s transition to point guard last season electrified his stat line and the rest of the league, if not the Bucks’ overall record.
Going into this season, Giannis will not have the luxury of sneaking up on anyone. Opposing teams will be gameplanning for Antetokounmpo as the Bucks’ number one offensive threat, and he will be treated as a star in terms of expectations.
None of this is to say he isn’t up for the challenge. Giannis has increased his stats across the board by substantial margins every year, and with a roster tailored to his talents, it’s tough to imagine him falling of to the point where Bucks fans would consider his extension a bad deal for the team.
As far as adding elements to his game, Antetokounmpo still lacks a reliable three-point shot, although his play in Olympic qualifiers and going 2-6 from behind the arc in the preseason shows that work is being done on that front.
As a whole though, Giannis will be judged based on the Bucks’ overall performance. He has a group of teammates built to allow him to thrive, a fanbase throwing their support completely behind him, and the tools to revolutionize the NBA. The only question is, what will he do with them?