Milwaukee Bucks: 3 feasible goals for Thanasis Antetokounmpo in 2021-22

Goal No. 3 — Thanasis Antetokounmpo should look to tally a new career-high in minutes with the Milwaukee Bucks on 2021-22

Throughout his three seasons in the NBA, Thanasis has shattered his previous career-high in minutes with each passing year. Playing with the New York Knicks in 2015-16, he would tally a mere six minutes across two games. During his first year with the Bucks in 2019-20, Thanasis would easily log a new career-high by playing 129 minutes across 20 games. Most recently, he blew the roof off that previous mark by appearing in 57 games for a total of 551 minutes played.

Given that steady rise in playing time, Thanasis should shoot to notch a new career-high in playing time this coming season. To achieve this feat, hitting on the previous two goals will certainly have to take place. Energy, efforts, and aggressive defense are the main ways he will earn playing time as he will always give the team a spark in the second unit, and just staying true in that role is what he should mainly focus on.

Another way that Antetokounmpo could steadily earn time in the rotation would be by showing an improved offensive skill set. The forward has never been known for his scoring, and rightfully so as he has averaged just 2.9 points per game for his career. Still, if he could perhaps work on improving, he could be a more compelling option. Shooting just 7-of-40 from 3-point range for his career, with all seven of those makes coming last season. Thanasis will not become a knockdown shooter overnight, no matter how much Budenholzer and the Bucks emphasize it.

Instead, Thanasis proved to be impactful closer to the hoop by shooting 58-of-95 (61.1 percent) in the restricted area last season. Most of those makes obviously came from dunks, but there is still room to improve in his finishing, as he was just 28-of-62 (45.2 percent) on layups. The Bucks will never rely too dependently on Thanasis to score the basketball, but it would undeniably help his case to earn more minutes if he could score the basketball better around the rim.

Entering year three with the Bucks, Thanasis has a legitimate chance to take another leap as an NBA player, and it will be fascinating to see it unfold.