Outside of James Wiseman, who played just one contest, Giannis Antetokounmpo had the highest usage rate in the entire NBA last season. The Milwaukee Bucks relied heavily on their star, even with another big-name player in Damian Lillard on the roster. Now, with Lillard gone, the Bucks are setting Giannis up to take on more responsibility. With all of the wear and tear he already has on his body, they can't let him get burnt out if they want to make some noise next season.
Bucks need to play the long game with Giannis Antetokounmpo
The Milwaukee Bucks have made it clear that Giannis will be the team's primary initiator on offense next season. With a focus on wanting to increase the 3-point output, they will trust Giannis to drive towards the hoop and find open shooters again and again. In addition to being one of the NBA's top scorers and most versatile defenders, it's a lot to ask. His usage rate might break records.
That might work for a shorter stretch like the NBA Playoffs, but for 82 regular season games, it may be a big ask. It's especially troublesome for someone like Giannis, who takes a beating every single game with his drives to the hoop and needs rest. It won't help that Giannis Antetokounmpo hasn't gotten much rest this summer after participating in EuroBasket, putting more stress on his body.
Given that Giannis has been banged up in two of the last three postseason runs, an injury due to overexhaustion would be a nightmare scenario.
With that in mind, the Milwaukee Bucks can absolutely use Giannis as their go-to initiator, but they must be smart about it. Without a clear-cut option like Khris Middleton, Jrue Holiday, or Damian Lillard to allow Giannis to comfortably rest, some of the new-look Bucks will be forced to step up when the Greek Freak takes a breather. This team cannot collapse whenever he's off the floor.
This exact scenario is why some are shocked the Milwaukee Bucks didn't prioritize adding a veteran ball-handler this summer. A savvy name to orchestrate the offense would have made some sense, but it's clear that Milwaukee trusts the young trio of Kevin Porter Jr., Ryan Rollins, and Cole Anthony. After years of veteran guard play, it's a bold move, but the potential is there for them to thrive.
One way or another, the Milwaukee Bucks must find a way to field a competitive enough roster to make the postseason while keeping their star fresh for the bright lights.
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