Milwaukee Bucks: Handing out player awards at the quarter mark

Milwaukee Bucks’ Most Valuable Player at the quarter way mark – Giannis Antetokounmpo

Make no mistake about it, Giannis Antetokounmpo has been the Most Valuable Player for the Bucks at the quarter mark of the season. The two-time MVP has gotten off to a surprisingly slow start, but he is still putting up top-tier numbers.

Antetokounmpo is currently averaging 27.8 points on a .553/.280/.587 slash line, 11.4 rebounds, and 5.7 assists per game. While all of those numbers have regressed compared to his outstanding award-winning campaign last season, there is no reason to start panicking just yet.

Part of Antetokounmpo’s struggles have been attributed to the Bucks trying to figure things out early. Implementing Jrue Holiday into the lineup, Khris Middleton’s continued ascension as one of the best offensive minds in basketball, and most notably, the team’s new scheme offensively.

As detailed by The Athletic’s Eric Nehm ($$), Antetokounmpo and Budenholzer believe these early growing pains are good for the future. Giannis wants to be uncomfortable to help expand his game, and that has certainly been the case early on. Both of them believe that in the bigger picture, particularly the postseason when teams begin to wall off the paint, these new offensive adjustments could be the answer they have been missing.

Circling back to Antetokounmpo’s production from this season, he is still putting up MVP-caliber numbers.

The Greek Freak has been a two-way machine in the early going, and if he is playing at this level while being uncomfortable, what might he be capable of when he gets settled in?