3 takeaways for the Milwaukee Bucks at quarter mark of 2021-22 season

#2: Giannis Antetokounmpo is still finding ways to surprise us

It doesn’t matter if it’s on or off the court, the two-time MVP and reigning Finals MVP, Giannis Antetokounmpo, has still found ways to surprise us, even in his ninth NBA season. Yes, that includes his eating habits.

Beyond his rekindled love of Oreos and his wholesome interview moments, Antetokounmpo has still found ways to surprise us with his game as well. Although it hasn’t paid off yet, he came into the season with a new shooting form that had everyone wondering if he could have become an improved shooter.

His 3-point and free throw numbers are back where they’ve been the last few seasons (in fact, his 27.7 percent 3-point percentage is his lowest since 2018-19), but he’s still confident as ever taking those shots and we’ve seen a noticeable improvement in his touch on his midrange jumpers.

The biggest surprise has come defensively, where Antetokounmpo has had to play more center than he ever has in his career out of necessity. He’s played over 60 percent of his minutes at the five and we’ve seen the good and bad of him figuring out the finer details of playing a new-ish position.

He’s posting the highest block rate of his career at 5.2 percent, which ranks in the top ten for the entire league. We’ve always known Antetokounmpo to be an elite help-side defender but this year we’re seeing what he can do as the primary protector of the rim and he’s crushing it.

He put the team on his back while his co-stars, Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday, missed time with their respective illnesses and injuries and helped the team stay afloat, all while playing through knee pain. Now they’re back and we’re seeing a more complete version of the Bucks again, which leads me to my final takeaway.