{"id":57175,"date":"2023-10-23T21:35:49","date_gmt":"2023-10-24T01:35:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=57175"},"modified":"2023-10-23T21:35:49","modified_gmt":"2023-10-24T01:35:49","slug":"top-25-nba-players-2023-24-no-2-giannis-antetokounmpo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2023\/10\/23\/top-25-nba-players-2023-24-no-2-giannis-antetokounmpo\/","title":{"rendered":"Top 25 NBA Players 2023-24: No. 2 Giannis Antetokounmpo"},"content":{"rendered":"

Nearing the end of our top 25 player rankings<\/a>, we arrive at Giannis Antetokounmpo<\/a><\/strong>\u2014an elite two-way player who impacts the game in many ways. Giannis has incredibly developed from a raw athleticism prospect with a high upside into a two-time MVP and one of the faces of the league.<\/p>\n

Top 25 NBA Players 2023-24: No. 2 Giannis Antetokounmpo<\/h2>\n

The League\u2019s Best Two-way Star<\/h3>\n

The value of a two-way player has increased in the last decade. No player is as elite as Giannis on both ends of the floor. He is the only player in the league with a legit case as a top-three player on both ends. He is a 30-point scorer who\u2019s a dominant interior presence and freak athlete. Additionally, Giannis is also a good playmaker and ball-handler for his size. Defensively, Giannis is incredibly versatile and impactful. He can guard several positions while wreaking havoc<\/a> with his athleticism and size, making him a great rim protector. This all comes together to form one of the most dangerous and dominant players of all time.<\/p>\n

Season Recap<\/h3>\n

Last year, the Bucks had an impressive regular season campaign. Including 58 wins en route to the number one seed in the East and the best record league-wide. Unsurprisingly, Giannis continued his excellence, averaging over 30 points and 10 rebounds while remaining one of the league’s best defenders. As a result, he was in the midst of a loaded and controversial MVP race. Ultimately, Giannis finished third. However, he had an excellent case to win the award and received 12 first-place votes.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, the Bucks’ success did not continue in the playoffs. The Bucks were heavily favored against the eighth-seeded Miami Heat despite their playoff experience. Giannis went down with a knee injury early in Game 1, leading the Heat to steal that contest. Giannis remained sidelined for Games 2 and 3 before returning for Game 4.<\/p>\n

The Heat were up 2-1 heading into Game 4. The Bucks were up double digits in the fourth quarter before Miami outscored them 41-25 to take a commanding 3-1 lead. Jimmy Butler<\/a><\/strong> had a legendary 56-point performance, including 21 fourth-quarter points. The Heat closed out the series in Game 5 after another fourth-quarter comeback and brilliant Butler performance. While Giannis had impressive games when he returned, it was clear his knee was still not 100%. Ultimately, after such a disappointing finish, it was clear the Bucks needed to make changes.<\/p>\n