Although ranking the top 30 NBA players in today’s game is an incredibly difficult task, The Last Word on Pro Basketball staff has taken it on. Coming in at number 4 in the countdown is Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Top 30 NBA Players
Number 4 – Giannis Antetokounmpo
Antetokounmpo was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks with the 15th overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft. After a rough few first years in the league, Antetokounmpo has blossomed into one of the best players in the NBA. Antetokounmpo is one of the most athletic players in the NBA, and he has a smile and personality that lights up the court each and every night.
Strengths
Antetokounmpo can do everything. In the 2016-17 season, Antetokounmpo was the first player in NBA history to finish top 20 in the NBA in all five major statistical categories. In terms of overall play, Antetokounmpo can do almost anything he would like on the floor at any given time. He posted the highest attempt rate for three-point shots since he came into the NBA, and he has produced the best three-point percentage of his career to date in the 2019-20 season. Along with freakish athleticism, court vision, and the defensive prowess to scare anyone out of the paint, Antetokounmpo has every skill needed to lead an NBA team to the Finals.
Weaknesses
There are few weaknesses to point out in Antetokounmpo’s game. As a point-forward hybrid, Antetokounmpo has been working on his shot. Antetokounmpo is not at the point where defenses are inherently scared when he pulls up from three-point land. However, his success rate in this area has clearly improved. In an era where the three-point shot reigns supreme, Antetokounmpo has been able to average almost 30 points in 30 minutes per game with a sub-par jump shot. If he can improve in this area to even league average in the next few years, the rest of the NBA will be in more trouble than it already is.
Career Accolades
In 2014 Giannis was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team. Not winning another award till 2017, Antetokounmpo did well for himself being named to the All-NBA Second Team, earning the same honors in 2018. He is four-time All-Star and won Most Improved Player in 2017. In 2019 he had his best season to date. Antetokounmpo notched All-NBA First Team, All-Defensive First Team nods and won Most Valuable Player in 2019.
Last Word on Pro Basketball Top 30 NBA Players Ballots
We believe in full transparency in the top 30 NBA player rankings so we are going to disclose the ballots of our player rankings and where each contributor had each player ranked.
Tyler Marling – Site Manager – 2nd
Chase Gage – Managing Editor – 4th
David Knight – Marketing Manager – 3rd
Zack Kircher – Associate Editor – 5th
Matthew Waldman – Associate Editor – 1st
David Ward – Associate Editor – 3rd
Avinash Chauhan – Contributor – 2nd
Adam Zigner – Contributor – 2nd
Albert Dadson – Contributor – 5th
Dylan Guest – Contributor – 2nd
Raheem Bashir – Contributor – 5th
Nathan Levine – Contributor – 4th
Bill Huan – Contributor – 4th
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