Latest Giannis Antetokounmpo development could take his game to another level

At this stage in his career, it’s a legitimately challenging thought exercise to even attempt to imagine Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo getting better. That's just the natural byproduct of scaling the heights of basketball again and again when you're already a two-time MVP, an NBA champion and arguably the most dominant two-way force in today’s game.

But this season, the Milwaukee Bucks superstar is showing improvement with a reliable midrange jumper. Giannis is shooting 46.8 percent from midrange through the season’s early stretch, hitting 22 of his 47 attempts. To put that in perspective, he shot just 35.1 percent from that same area last year and 35.9 percent the year before.

Not only is he blowing past his own numbers, but he’s also surpassing the gold standard of midrange efficiency: Kevin Durant. Widely considered one of the greatest midrange shooters the association has known, KD is hitting 44.4 percent of his shots from this range so far this season.

The Bucks haven't had the best start to their season thus far, and there's no doubt about that. For Giannis to outperform Durant here? That’s genuinely seismic for a Milwaukee Bucks squad whose offensive has been running dry as of late, and potentially for the entire NBA.

For years, the strategy against Giannis was to wall up in the paint, take away his drive, and dare him to beat you with his jump shot. Teams would give him space outside, confident that they could live with him taking jumpers instead of unleashing his freight-train drive. One of the real weaknesses in his game has always been his in-between range. It's one of the many reasons his game has always been widely disrespected by outsiders.

Until now.

Giannis Antetokounmpo's excellence from midrange is a game-changer

The "Giannis Wall" hasn't functioned as intended for a few years now, but by adding a consistent mid-range shot to his arsenal, Giannis can punish defenses no matter where he is on the court.

If a defender sags off, he’s got the touch to rise up and knock down a clean look. If they crowd him, he can blow by or body through for his unstoppable finishes. The midrange adds a level of unpredictability, breaking down the “Giannis Wall” defenses have spent years perfecting.

When you think of the mid-range shot, Durant is usually the benchmark. For Giannis to be shooting a higher percentage than Durant—a player who’s spent his career perfecting his pull-up jumper—is a serious statement. And to add perspective, this is a skill KD has refined over nearly two decades, whereas Giannis Antetokounmpo has only recently made it a focal point.

(To be fair, Durant is admittedly having a down year after shooting 251-of-485 or 51.8 percent from the mid-range a season ago. But the point stands.)

Giannis’s commitment to this area of his game reveals a willingness to adapt that bodes well for the Bucks’ offensive versatility. If he can maintain even close to this efficiency, it won’t just transform his scoring potential—it could change the way defenses strategize against Milwaukee. For the Bucks, that means creating endless opportunities to open up the floor for other scorers, especially with Damian Lillard drawing attention from the perimeter.

"I feel like when I make my free throws, it's just a rhythm thing for me. I've never been scared to go to the line in my career. Even if I miss, I don't think I've ever shied away from contact even when I airball a shot or whatever. But you know, once you see the ball go in, you've got a little more rhythm," Antetokounmpo said in his post-game presser.

"It's something I've worked on all summer...it's something that I trust. I feel like I can make it. There's going to be some days it's going to fall in, some days it's not going to fall. But that's been my thing; once free throws go in, I feel good."

Antetokounmpo might partake in the NBA's midrange renaissance

The mid-range game is having a moment across the league. Advocates of modern analytics may have once upon a time frowned on the “inefficient” 2-point jumper, but superstars like Durant, DeMar DeRozan, and fellow Milwaukee Buck Khris Middleton have reminded us that it’s still a crucial tool in elite players’ arsenals.

At a little over seven feet, with a 7-foot-3 wingspan, Giannis’s mid-range shot is nearly impossible to block. As early as the preseason, he's rising up and releasing with a form that has become noticeably smoother, and there’s a confidence that shows he’s been putting in the work. Opponents now face an unenviable dilemma: contest him on the drive and risk fouling, or play up and allow him to use that newfound midrange touch.

If Giannis Antetokounmpo's improved shooting holds, it could make Milwaukee one of the toughest teams to defend in the league (assuming their offense with Damian Lillard and Khris Middleton finally comes together eventually). With Lillard controlling the outside and Giannis attacking from all angles, the Milwaukee Bucks’ offense becomes a multi-headed monster.

Milwaukee’s championship hopes rely on Giannis being at his very best. With his new weapon in the mid-range, he might just be reaching a level we haven’t yet seen.

This season, it’s not about if Giannis Antetokounmpo can dominate. It’s about just how far he can push the limits of what he—and the Bucks—can achieve.

Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis.