When speaking about the recent EuroBasket semifinal game between Turkey and Greece, Turkish star Alperen Sengun offered a critique of Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s game, saying he was “not a great passer.” Sengun may have gotten the win, but Giannis will have ample opportunity to prove him wrong in the NBA season as he serves as the primary playmaker and facilitator for the Bucks.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is a criminally underrated passer
Of course, Bucks fans and anyone else who has been paying attention would generally disagree with Sengun that passing is a weakness of Giannis‘s game. He’s averaged 6.5 assists in the last two seasons on top of his regular 30-plus points per night, which is indicative of at least a good, if not great, passer. He may not get the same highlight reel assists as Sengun, but Giannis is very effective in getting his teammates the ball in open spots.
However, there is some truth to Sengun‘s comments. Giannis has been a great reactive playmaker for a while now. He’s able to use the threat of his inside scoring to open up opportunities for teammates and kick out to three-point shooters.
However, another evolution in his game can come with more proactive playmaking. This includes seeing openings before they fully form and hitting teammates early in open spots. He showcased this emerging talent a bit in EuroBasket, especially in the group stage, and it can be another weapon to elevate the Bucks' offense.
Proactive playmaking can be an incredible advantage for Giannis for multiple reasons. For one, it generally involves less physical effort on the part of the passer, so he won’t have to barrel into opposing defenses in order to create openings for his teammates. This can keep him healthier over the course of the entire season when the Bucks need him the most. Furthermore, it can drive up his assist numbers very easily and inch him ever closer to the triple-double mark.
As he ages, it’s important for Giannis to find subtle ways to make his game more complete while preserving his body. He’s now entering his 13th NBA season and has been playing a very physical brand of basketball for most of that time. Last season, he already displayed some newfound skills with an improved midrange jumper, both off the dribble and in the post, that reduced wear and tear on his body.
An additional leap in passing for Giannis Antetokounmpo would elevate the books even more and continue to cement his status as one of the very best players in the entire league. It may even arguably make him the most complete player in the world when you consider both sides of the ball.