Among the many surprises for the Milwaukee Bucks this season, the play of Thanasis Antetokounmpo certainly stands somewhere on the list.
Entering this season with just 135 minutes of NBA action across 22 total games under his belt, the 28-year-old has seen a far more prominent opportunity this year from the start. Antetokounmpo has already doubled the number of games played throughout his first two seasons as he currently sits at 44, playing a whopping 477 minutes during that span.
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Antetokounmpo has not stuffed the stat sheet on a game-to-game basis during that span but has instead earned his opportunity by bringing an energetic presence off the bench.
Whether it comes in the form of diving at the loose ball, playing some very aggressive defense, or throwing down a vicious dunk, Thanasis has proven that he can certainly make an impact in the game whenever he steps on the floor.
That high energy had him playing a fairly prominent role for the Bucks up until recently, as his playing time has been on the downward trend recently. Antetokounmpo has logged just seven total minutes throughout the team’s last two games, spending a large portion of his time as a spectator.
Although two games is certainly a sample size, newfound circumstances to Milwaukee’s roster could see Thanasis in a much smaller role, if any, moving forward.
Why Thanasis Antetokounmpo might see less time for the Milwaukee Bucks
Before this two-game stretch, Thanasis averaged 21.6 minutes per game for Milwaukee in their previous five games. A large factor that played into that extended time was the absence of his brother, two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, who had been sidelined for an extended period of time battling with knee soreness.
With Giannis now back in the fold, Thanasis was bound to see his minutes regress to some extent. However, the major factor that will play into his lack of minutes moving forward is P.J. Tucker. The 35-year-old forward had been sidelined for 10 games as he fought through a calf strain, but his recent return to the lineup has taken the focus from Thanasis.
While Thanasis undoubtedly knows how to make his presence felt on the defensive end, he does not possess the same prowess as Tucker. His robust defensive stature was why the Bucks swung a trade for the forward before the trade deadline, and they are certainly looking to get him involved fairly quickly with the playoffs approaching.
The return of both Tucker and Giannis has made Thanasis expendable in the lineup, as evidenced by his last two outings. However, these past two games do not mean that the energizer will be kept out of the rotation for good.
In fact, if anything, he has proven that he can get minutes when called upon for the Bucks. Thanasis has shown consistently that he can contribute to a team in meaningful ways, particularly providing a spark when the team is losing focus. Having a player like that off the bench is something head coach Mike Budenholzer will always have in his back pocket, which could prompt more minutes down the road.
While his role might not be as focal as it has been to this point, Thanasis will remain in the mix to some degree. That might mean some nights he will have to provide that energetic spark from the bench and keep the team motivated during timeouts with his lively presence.
Even if his role minimizes down the stretch, Thanasis has proven this season that he is a capable NBA player for many reasons beyond just the name on the back of his jersey.