Ranking 10 worst starters of the Giannis Antetokounmpo era
By Tyler Watts
The Milwaukee Bucks took a chance on Giannis Antetokounmpo in the 2013 NBA Draft. His upside was massive, but the right situation was necessary for him to turn into a star. He was a starter by year two, an All-Star in his fourth season, and the MVP in year six. It has been incredible to watch and Giannis even brought Milwaukee their second championship in 2021.
Now, the franchise has to stay in title contention. Antetokounmpo is already applying pressure, and the Bucks may need to get desperate to keep him. It won’t be easy, but going all-in is what has to happen around arguably the best players in the world.
Antetokounmpo already has a championship ring, and the organization has put talent around him. It took some time and luck, but Giannis needed to grow too. The Bucks had some regrettable starters around their superstar in his first decade with the team, but here is a look at the worst players with a minimum of 20 starts to eliminate one-off injury fill-ins.
Milwaukee Bucks worst starters of Giannis Antetokounmpo era
10. Ersan Ilyasova
Ilyasova spent nine of his 14 NBA seasons with the Bucks. The franchise drafted him in the second round in 2005 and kept him for a decade, despite Ilyasova suiting up in just seven of those years.
The 6’9 forward was maddeningly inconsistent. His shooting ranged from 40.9 percent to 47.2 during the Giannis era, and his rebounding, defense, and overall production fluctuated. In the Greek Freak’s first two NBA seasons, Ilyasova made 83 starts in his 113 games played. The 6’9 forward struggled to stay healthy, and fans were always left hoping it would be a positive night.
Ilyasova averaged 11.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.1 assists in 24.8 minutes per game during Antetokounmpo’s first two seasons. He would return to Milwaukee in 2018 for two more years, but Ilyasova was already in his 30s and past his prime.
Ersan Ilyasova is not the Milwaukee Bucks’ worst starter next to Giannis Antetokounmpo, but his inconsistency made him best suited for a reserve role. It is why his minutes were always in the mid-20s per game. The Bucks overstretched his part, and the proof is in his declining playoff minutes.