Giannis Antetokounmpo has been dominating the NBA for many years now. Some fans and media members view him as a one-trick pony reliant on getting to the rim, but Giannis has expanded his game over the years. Last season, he showed tremendous growth in his mid-range scoring, and his stated dream workout partner would help take that even further.
In a recent interview with Sport24, Giannis stated that he doesn’t want to work out with any current players, but rather seeks the advice of retired greats. In particular, he mentioned a recent inductee into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, Carmelo Anthony.
Giannis wants to learn from Hall of Famer Carmelo Anthony
Anthony is one of the top scorers in NBA history (12th all-time with 28,000 points) and possessed an extremely versatile skill set. He could get his shot off from anywhere on the court, but particularly thrived in the mid-range. Although he never won any NBA championships in his career, Carmelo Anthony is a certified legend, and many current players look up to him.
Giannis would be wise to learn from Carmelo, especially in the art of the mid-range. He was an assassin in that spot, and he did it with incredible footwork and dribble moves. Anthony also had great strength at the forward position, a strength that Giannis shares.
He was also a master of the triple threat position and able to freeze even the toughest defenses with that stance. The same skill could be extremely useful to Giannis Antetokounmpo in this upcoming season with fewer respected offensive weapons around him.
Absorbing some of Melo’s mid-range bag can give Giannis more options when defense is walling off the paint and sending double teams his way. It can also help increase his longevity as he transitions to a less physical style of basketball, in addition to increasing his playmaking responsibilities. More mid-range opportunities will help him become an even more complete player.
Expanding his own mid-range game out to the 3-point line and adding more spot-up looks helped Carmelo Anthony extend his career late into his 30s. With some pointers, maybe Giannis could also do the same as he gets older and continues to be a force in the league.
Giannis‘ choice of a dream workout partner shows his wisdom and deliberate efforts to increase his skill set. Even after all his accomplishments and winning a championship as the best player, Giannis is still looking to get better every single season. His rare combination of humility and competitiveness is what keeps him at the top of the sport.