The Milwaukee Bucks are depending on Giannis Antetokounmpo to be a do-it-all option, but they will soon learn that he’s not capable of that. Antetokounmpo is absolutely talented to be the best player on a championship team, but asking one player to do it all on any team is difficult. And asking a guy who can’t score on the perimeter makes it next to impossible.
After ditching Damian Lillard, the Bucks have been left with a lackluster backcourt and a complete lack of perimeter creators. Kyle Kuzma, Gary Trent Jr., Cole Anthony, and Kevin Porter Jr. are their best options.
That’s not good enough.
Why can’t Giannis Antetokounmpo be the only option?
Antetokounmpo is one of the greatest players of all time. He’s an NBA Champion, a two-time MVP, and a Defensive Player of the Year. There is no denying how talented the Greek Freak truly is. But he can’t do it alone.
To be honest, nobody can. The closest thing to a player leading a team effectively by himself is James Harden on the Houston Rockets. Chris Paul was his No. 2, and he’s not a score-first player. Harden never made it past the Western Conference finals. Stephen Curry at least had Klay Thompson’s scoring and Draymond Green’s offensive hub talents.
Obviously, Antetokounmpo and Harden are very different players. In today’s game, three-point shooting and perimeter creation are essential. Curry proves that, too. Having a guy who works primarily in the paint is a perfectly fine way to win in today’s NBA, but other stars are needed.
Nikola Jokic had Jamal Murray. Shaquille O’Neal had Kobe Bryant. In 2021, Antetokounmpo had Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton.
Now, Antetokounmpo is left with the players previously mentioned: Kuzma, Trent, Anthony, and Porter. That’s just not good enough. And the Bucks seem to have purchased a one-way ticket on a train that is hurdling toward that realization.
There’s a good chance that Antetokounmpo will put up MVP-caliber stars this season. He’s going to have to hold the weight of the world on his back in Milwaukee if they want to be competitive. That will undoubtedly produce insane numbers.
But if the Bucks want to win a championship, they need perimeter creators around Antetokounmpo. True stars, not just role players. It’s why they traded for Lillard and Holiday. It’s why Middleton worked so well next to Antetokounmpo.
Now, they have none of the above. All three of those guys are gone. And they’re going to come to that very painful realization soon.