The Best of Antetokounmpo
To specifically narrow down all the things Giannis did well this season would be impossible. From absurd highlights to gaudy numbers, Antetokounmpo did it all for this team, and was not one to step down from the challenge during the postseason either.
The Bucks expected big things from Giannis considering his play during the second half of the 2016-17 season, but few expected as much production as this.
Giannis made strides in points per game, assists per game, rebounds per game, steals per game, blocks per game, field goal percentage, and just about every other major statistical category. In fact, he even led the Bucks in all five major statistical categories.
For the first time in NBA history, a player was able to finish the season in the top-20 league-wide in all five major statistical categories, and that player was Giannis Antetokounmpo. That just about sums up how excellent the Greek Freak was this past season.
On the floor, Giannis was a great leader and tried to push everybody to play at their very best. One moment in particular stood out from the year in trying to push rookie Thon Maker to take his open shots:
As long as Giannis is on the floor, good things tend to happen for the Bucks, and that’s because he is so great as a team player. Not only does he get his points efficiently, but he passes the ball well and is a constant threat for a highlight on both ends of the floor. Unlike plenty of 20 points per game scorers in the NBA, Giannis an elite defensive player too.
While leading the league in combined steals and blocks this year, Antetokounmpo has asserted himself as one of the best two-way players around. With his combination of length and quickness, he has the ability to guard every position on the floor, and very rarely sees a matchup that he cannot handle.