Ranking 10 worst starters of the Giannis Antetokounmpo era
By Tyler Watts
7. Larry Sanders
The best ability is availability. Sanders had immense talent and potential on the court but struggled to harness it. Fouls issues kept him from playing more and his best year came before Giannis Antetokounmpo arrived in the draft. Sanders was penciled in as the Bucks starting center in the Greek Freak’s first two seasons, but it was not truly the case.
The 6’11 big man played just 50 games next to Giannis over two years. Sanders was suspended multiple times for violating the NBA’s anti-drug program and struggled with anxiety and depression issues. The franchise signed him to a four-year extension worth for $44 million in 2013, which they paid parts of through 2022 after stretching his salary.
On the court, Sanders was a strong rebounder, defender, and shot-blocker. He was strictly a roll man and putback specialist on offense, but the 6’11 big man was always protecting the rim and cleaning the glass. His best season came at 24 years old, and there will always be the what-if of Sanders reaching his potential.
Larry Sanders never got to see Giannis’ best years. He left the NBA in 2015 at 26 years old and only made a brief five-game comeback with Cleveland in 2017. His limited availability and contract weighing the Milwaukee Bucks down for years earned him a spot as one of the worst starters next to Giannis Antetokounmpo.