Throughout his career, what has made Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo such a tough cover has been his relentless ability to get to the rim, finish over opponents, and impose his physical will on the opposition. As Giannis continues to age, his ability to knock down outside shots and create shots for his teammates will be the key to his longevity.
Outside shooting and playmaking are the keys to Giannis' longevity
Many players who have dominated the league have eventually faced the reality that flying over their opponents or blowing by them on the perimeter isn't something they can rely on forever. At some point, their game has to evolve enough in other aspects that require less innate athleticism. Fortunately, Giannis has someone he can model his evolution after, who is still playing in the league.
LeBron James is a prime example of evolving his game to remain effective well past his prime years. When James entered the league, he relied solely on his athleticism to get to the rim and finish plays in transition. As he has aged, you have seen him develop a lethal outside shot that has kept him at an All-Star level well beyond his golden years.
Giannis will need to do the same. Luckily, Antetokounmpo remains in his prime at the moment, and those years don't appear to be ending anytime soon. However, his newly acquired mid-range shot ( shot a career-high 44.7 percent last season) is the first step he has to take to maintain his effectiveness as his athleticism inevitably fades.
Another aspect that Giannis needs to continue to develop is his passing game. With rumors that Giannis will spend time at point guard this coming season, we could see a significant jump in this area. As his athleticism dwindles, he will have to rely on his playmaking ability to continue keeping the opposing team on its heels and make it easier to finish against shifting defenses.
With Antetokounmpo currently playing some of the best basketball of his entire career, owning a medal from EuroBasket, two MVPs, a defensive player of the year trophy, and the Larry O'Brien, all that is left to prove is whether he can evolve like the other greats have done before him. If the first 12 seasons have shown Milwaukee Bucks fans anything, it would be that you never doubt Giannis and his ability to transform his game.