Another double-double season
One of the most significant elements of a 2017-18 season where Antetokounmpo took major strides forward in a number of departments was his move into the category of the NBA’s rebounding elite.
Antetokounmpo has long been advertised as a player capable of doing a little bit of everything across the floor, but his improvement on the glass acted as just the latest evidence of his evolution as a player.
Once miscast as a wing, the 23-year-old has comfortably moved into a frontcourt role as he’s added impressive strength and bulk to his long, tall frame in recent years. The natural progression of that was for Antetokounmpo to improve as a rebounder, but there was no guarantee he’d reach the levels he did last year.
Averaging exactly 10 rebounds per game, Antetokounmpo was one of just 11 players to average double-digit boards across the course of the season, and perhaps most notably he joined Russell Westbrook as the only non-center to be included in that company.
Added to his more perimeter-based skills such as his scoring, playmaking and ball-handling, this improvement was just the latest example of Antetokounmpo establishing himself as one of the most uniquely well-rounded players in the NBA.
Particularly on a team with long-running rebounding struggles, Antetokounmpo replicating that would be a real positive in the coming season, while if he could build further on his input on the glass, the Greek’s star would only continue to rise to even loftier heights.