Giannis Antetokounmpo: ‘The Playmaker’ of Milwaukee Bucks
ONE OF THE best young talents in the National Basketball Association today, Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks is putting a twist to the word “playmaker” with his uncanny combination of size and athleticism.
Usually reserved to smaller guards, the 6’11” Antetokounmpo of Greece has been thrust to be the lead playmaker for his team, something that the 22-year-old is getting comfortable with.
“I think my teammates and the coaching staff did know that I’m really good in playmaking. So at first they were thinking to put me in a spot that I can playmake [sic] and make plays for my teammates. But I think it makes it a lot easier with my teammates because they just believe in me and they gave me a lot of confidence and they help me on a daily basis to feel comfortable in the new spot. Through the summer, I just had to do what I had to do to get better and get more comfortable as a playmaker and be ready for this season,” said Mr. Antetokounmpo in an international conference call whose transcript was shared to BusinessWorld.
The 15th overall pick in the 2013 draft has been experiencing a career season so far in his fourth year in The Association, posting career-highs in points (21.8 markers), rebounds (8.3 boards), assists ( 5.4 dimes), steals ( 1.8 swipes) and blocks ( 2.1 swats). And he said there is still a lot from him as he helps bring the Bucks back to league respectability.
“I think as an organization we are on the right path. We’re just getting better. Every summer, Coach [Jason Kidd], I think, has added the right pieces in the team. Jabari Parker is getting better. Khris Middleton is getting better. I’m getting better. Everybody on the team, as a team, we’re getting better. For me, I think I have to step up and lead this team and try to do whatever it takes to win. We are all here to win, and we know our future is going to be bright,” said the young star of the Bucks, currently sporting a 5-7 record and half a game outside of the eighth spot in the Eastern Conference.
As for his newfound success and the label of being one of the faces of the NBA right now, the “Greek Freak,” as Mr. Antetokounmpo is popularly referred to, said he does not put much weight into it and would rather focus on improving his game and helping his team.
“It’s just a compliment. Everybody has their own opinion. Some people say I can be one of the faces of the NBA — future faces of the NBA. Some people say I cannot. But I still have to do, as I said, what I do best: Work hard,” he said.
Adding, “I have a long way to go. I think I could get a lot, a lot, a lot better. So I just have to keep working hard and keep listening to my teammates and coaching staff.”
Does he see himself playing lead playmaker the rest of his career? Mr. Antetokounmpo, who has a wingspan of a 7’3” player, said it is highly likely considering how basketball now encourages such.
“For me, a lot of people label the position (point guard). Basketball right now — we cannot label the position because a lot of players can do a lot of things. Like Marc Gasol [ of the Memphis Grizzlies]. Marc Gasol is one of the best players playmaking in this league. For me, he’s a point center. He can playmake. My job right now is playmaking. I don’t label myself as a point guard, point forward. I just have the ball in my hands and just playmake. Basketball now is moving, and this generation of basketball now has no positions. A lot of people can do different things,” he said.
“So I think if J-Kidd didn’t have this crazy idea of putting me on point guard, I’d still go and do the same thing. I’d still have the ball in my hands and playmake. And I think the league is moving forward to position-less players, players that can do a lot of things. So that’s good because now you can see a lot of players, even the centers, going out to the three-point line shooting threes. And that’s nice, because I feel like that’s how we’re supposed to play the game. A lot of people can do a lot of things,” Mr. Antetokounmpo added. —