Two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo tops our list of the top players in 2022-23. The six-time All-Star is poised to lead the Milwaukee Bucks back to the NBA Finals. Will he end this season with more hardware?
Top NBA Players 2022-23: #1 Giannis Antetokounmpo
A Championship Hangover
Antetokounmpo and the Bucks set out to defend their 2020-21 NBA title last season. Of course, things didn’t go as planned, and Milwaukee was ousted by the eventual conference champion Boston Celtics. This wasn’t Antetokounmpo’s fault, as he led the Bucks with 33.9 points per game in the series without star wingman Khris Middleton. The ‘Greek Freak’ put on a show in Game three, scoring 42 points in a near triple-double as he led Milwaukee to victory.
Stepping back to review the season as a whole, it’s clear to see that Antetokounmpo is still at the top of his game. He averaged 29.9 points, 11.6 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game last year. Giannis improved his free throw shooting considerably, upping his percentage to 72.2%. He was second in the league in points per game and sixth in total points scored. The Bucks won 51 games, good for third in the eastern conference, and Antetokounmpo finished third in overall voting for the league’s MVP award.
Giannis Antetokounmpo: 2022-23 Season Outlook
Antetokounmpo is primed for another MVP-level season with the Bucks. His turnaround post game is dominant against smaller defenders, who are also unable to do anything should he take it to the rim. Giannis is great on the break and his rebounding ability, paired with his handling skills, turn him into a one-man fast break. His ability to get to the rim has led to increased trips to the foul line. Not only has his shooting improved, but Antetokounmpo attempted a career-high 11.4 free throws per game last season. If both trends hold, he will see that points average eclipse the 30 mark.
Oops all around. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/xZlx6UW0S5
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) October 15, 2022
Defensively, Antetokounmpo is a force. Averaging over a steal and a block per game, his frame, athleticism, and timing make him a constant threat to force a turnover. He finished ninth in the NBA in defensive win shares and second Antetokounmpo is stout inside, ranking fifth in the league in defensive rebounds and eleventh in blocks per game.
It is no secret that Antetokounmpo isn’t the best shooter in the league. His three-point shooting did not improve last year, as he hit only 29% of his shots from beyond the arc. The rest of the league hopes that this will be the case again this year because if Giannis ever develops a three-point shot, he’ll be unguardable.
Giannis led all scorers tonight.
24 PTS | 14 REB | 4 AST | 3 STL pic.twitter.com/itbuQN8eHL
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) October 13, 2022
The Last Word on Giannis Antetokounmpo
Antetokounmpo is one of the best all-around players to ever play in the NBA. He’s the only player in league history to average at least 25 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, one steal, and one block per game in multiple seasons. He has done this each year since 2018. He’ll do it for a fifth straight season in 2022-23 on his way to another MVP-level season.
