Giannis Antetokounmpo: 3 insane stats that encapsulate great start

No. 3: The difference between Giannis Antetokounmpo on and off the floor for the Milwaukee Bucks is staggering

No one would be surprised to learn that the Bucks have been much better when Giannis Antetokounmpo is on the floor as opposed to sitting on the bench. The best player on the team, arguably the best in the world, all of that. However, with all of the injuries, the Bucks have had to rely on Antetokounmpo more than usual.

That is reflected in his on/off stats per Cleaning the Glass, where Antetokounmpo’s full value to the 2021-22 injury-riddled Bucks is shown. When Antetokounmpo is on the court, the Bucks are outscoring teams by plus-18.7 points per 100 possessions. But when he is off, they are being outscored by minus-18.3 points per 100. That is a plus-37 difference and only three other players in the entire league have a greater difference than Antetokounmpo to this point.

Last season, Antetokounmpo had a plus-9.2 difference and his career-best is plus-13.5. It shows that the Bucks depth is hurting them right now without their normal starters but that Antetokounmpo is still keeping them more than afloat when he’s out there.

If you’re looking for some overall impact stats that show the two-time MVP’s value to the team this year, he is first in Basketball Reference’s Value Over Replacement Player metric at 0.9. He is first in offensive box plus/minus (8.7), second in overall box plus/minus (12.1), second in win shares (1.6), and third in FiveThirtyEight’s RAPTOR wins above replacement (1.6).

Antetokounmpo is very much back in the MVP conversation after last year’s supposed “voter fatigue” and the narrative that he had to prove himself in the playoffs before some voters would put him at the top of their ballots (for a regular-season award).

It would not be a surprise to see Giannis win his third MVP trophy if he can keep up this strong level of play throughout the season.