The Milwaukee Bucks are just 4-8 in 2024-25 and 23-31 in the Doc Rivers era. If he didn’t have Giannis Antetokounmpo on the roster, that record would be even worse.
Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Greek God Act Gives Bucks A Prayer
On Wednesday, Antetokounmpo recorded 59 points, 14 rebounds, seven assists, three blocks, and two steals against the Detroit Pistons.
What a freakish stat line from Giannis.
59 PTS | 14 REB | 7 AST | 3 BLK | 2 STL | 62% FG pic.twitter.com/Mu75qJk7qO
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) November 14, 2024
It still took the Bucks an overtime period to beat them.
While Milwaukee playing without eight-time Damian Lillard is worth noting, it may not have been why the result was so close. Lillard is averaging 26.0 points and 6.6 assists per game this season, healthy production. However, his absence might amount to addition by subtraction, with the Bucks now 2-0 without him this season.
Frankly, the opponents they faced —the Pistons and Toronto Raptors —aren’t the strongest competition they could face. Nonetheless, Milwaukee’s been much better defensively. They held the Raptors to 85 points, their first time this season holding a team to under 100 points. Though in the midst of a career season, Pistons leader Cade Cunningham shot just 38.2 percent from the field.
That being said, Antetokounmpo is his team’s most —if not only —reliable scorer. So, while he can rely on his supporting cast to get stops, there’s no assurance he’ll get enough help offensively. Fortunately for the Bucks, there are few players who put pressure on a defense like Antetokounmpo.
Like Ares, Antetokounmpo has been their commander in wartime, courageous in battle.
When he attacks the rim, his physical tools shine, Antetokounmpo often bringing down the thunder like Zeus. Yet, he also has a knack for finesse finishes, floating to the rim like he had Hermes’s winged sandals. This season, he’s also had solid touch on his jumper, shooting 46.8 percent from the midrange. He’s no Apollo, but sometimes he’s quite the archer.
Keeping The Faith
The Bucks should be thanking their lucky stars that they believed in Antetokounmpo more than the 14 teams that picked in front of them in the 2013 NBA Draft.
The Cleveland Cavaliers could have definitely had him. Instead, they picked Anthony Bennett with the first overall pick. Bennett wound up playing just 151 NBA games, averaging 12.6 minutes per contest, before he was out of the league.
The Washington Wizards (Otto Porter Jr.), Charlotte Hornets (Cody Zeller), Phoenix Suns (Alex Len), Sacramento Kings (Ben McLemore), and Minnesota Timberwolves (Trey Burke) had a bit more luck than the Cavs, but none of their lottery selections came close to being an All-Star. Even the Portland Trail Blazers, who have a history of taking the wrong lottery pick, would have rather had Antetokounmpo than who they selected (CJ McCollum).
Only the Bucks’ precognition didn’t err, as they drafted a skinny and lanky Greek-Nigerian forward who was admittedly a project at the time. They’ve been rewarded for that, as Antetokounmpo is now an NBA champion, two-time MVP, eight-time All-Star, and the 2020 Defensive Player of the Year, among many other accomplishments. In Bucks history, he already ranks first in career points (18,868), rebounds (7,865), assists (3,916), blocks (1,001), triple-doubles (45) and a couple of other categories.
To make it all the better, he’s still at the top of his game, and can be the league’s top performer any given night.
