{"id":98271,"date":"2024-09-28T17:26:19","date_gmt":"2024-09-28T21:26:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=98271"},"modified":"2024-09-28T17:26:19","modified_gmt":"2024-09-28T21:26:19","slug":"bucks-giannis-antetokounmpo-trains-with-top-5-draft-prospects","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/09\/28\/bucks-giannis-antetokounmpo-trains-with-top-5-draft-prospects\/","title":{"rendered":"Bucks\u2019 Giannis Antetokounmpo Trains With Top-5 Draft Prospects"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Looking to be Rutgers\u2019 highest draft picks since <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/b\/baileja01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">James Bailey<\/a> was selected sixth overall by <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/09\/17\/supersonics-more-good-news-as-nba-pursues-expansion\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">the Seattle SuperSonics<\/a> in 1979, Scarlet Knights freshmen Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper have enlisted the help of none other than Milwaukee Bucks forward <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/a\/antetgi01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Giannis Antetokounmpo<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>At 29 years old, Antetokounmpo has already racked up the hardware. He can put his trophy case up against any active player, except for perhaps Los Angeles Lakers forward <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/j\/jamesle01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">LeBron James<\/a> and Golden State Warriors guard <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/c\/curryst01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Stephen Curry<\/a>, and argue that it\u2019s on their level or better. Him offering a hand to Bailey and Harper on their journey isn\u2019t to be taken lightly.<\/p>\n<h2>Bucks\u2019 Giannis Antetokounmpo Training With Top-5 Draft Duo Ace Bailey, Dylan Harper<\/h2>\n<p>In an event hosted by Nike, Antetokounmpo preached confidence after giving Bailey and Harper pointers on taking midrange jumpers.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Giannis, Ace Bailey, Dylan Harper workout together \ud83d\udd25 <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/nikebasketball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@nikebasketball<\/a> <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/OHjs0yzj8u\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/OHjs0yzj8u<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Swish Cultures (@swishcultures_) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/swishcultures_\/status\/1839833009471594780?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">September 28, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>He trash-talked with them while running the same drills.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Giannis to Dylan and Ace \u201cI can\u2019t wait until y\u2019all get to the league \ud83d\ude02\u201d <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/TqCUQXB2rQ\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/TqCUQXB2rQ<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Swish Cultures (@swishcultures_) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/swishcultures_\/status\/1839833905530126524?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">September 28, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>He preached balance and timing.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Giannis, Ace, Dylan dropping knowledge on balance &amp; base with post fades \ud83d\udd25 <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/nikebasketball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@nikebasketball<\/a> <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/lmzsQykb8A\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/lmzsQykb8A<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Swish Cultures (@swishcultures_) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/swishcultures_\/status\/1839835851355738370?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">September 28, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Lastly, he emphasized the importance of players getting to their \u201ckill spots.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Giannis talking to Ace &amp; Dylan about how great players have Kill spots \ud83d\udd25 he mentions KD, Kobe, Dwade, Lebron and more \ud83d\udd25 <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/nikebasketball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@nikebasketball<\/a> <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/M1Vdfs3aRB\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/M1Vdfs3aRB<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Swish Cultures (@swishcultures_) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/swishcultures_\/status\/1839842271891509550?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">September 28, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h3>Few Better Role Models<\/h3>\n<p>Bailey and Harper training with Antetokounmpo is a great idea and not just because of the clips above.<\/p>\n<p>Both of the incoming Scarlet Knights\u2019 biggest weakness is arguably their three-point shooting, like Antetokounmpo. Yet, they\u2019re lanky playmakers with the ability to score off-the-dribble, like Antetokounmpo. With that being said, though a steady outside jumper is a pretty useful tool, it\u2019s not the only way players can get an edge on the competition.<\/p>\n<p>Antetokounmpo is one of the players who has proven that, averaging 29.0 points per game over the past seven seasons while shooting 28.9 percent from 3. In that time, he won two NBA MVP awards.<\/p>\n<p>As an athletic 6-foot-8 forward, Bailey may find it easier to replicate Antetokounmpo as a scorer. He already has <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/07\/30\/nba-draft-executive-names-cooper-flagg-no-1-competitor-ace-bailey\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">a knack for finishing around the rim<\/a>, which is one of the Greek Freak\u2019s most freakish abilities. However, as a 6-foot-5 point guard, Harper has the potential to be a mismatch nightmare.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Dylan Harper - Don Bosco - 2023-24 High School Highlights\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/9-kcWlOit28?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>In their workout, the trio was doing plenty of skill work, focusing heavily on jumpers. With that being said, the shots they took during the drills were notably all inside the arc.<\/p>\n<h3>Relationships &amp; Rutgers<\/h3>\n<p>There are at least two other benefits to the workouts that the workout that Bailey and Harper had with Antetokounmpo.<\/p>\n<p>For one, it\u2019s an experience that will take away some other nerves when they do get to the league. They won\u2019t be star struck by as many, or perhaps any, competition after getting up shots with players of Antetokounmpo\u2019s caliber. As the son of a five-time NBA champion, Harper should already be past that stage.<\/p>\n<p>In the same vein, as Harper surely knows, the NBA is a boy\u2019s club. While every player may not be buddy-buddy, there\u2019s a fraternal bond between many of them. Those relationships can have a direct or indirect effect on their opportunities when they make it to the league.<\/p>\n<p>In the meantime, Bailey and Harper will look to lead Rutgers to their first ever national title. As the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/08\/27\/rutgers-mens-basketball-all-time-starting-5\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">highest-rated basketball recruits<\/a> in program history, they\u2019ve already <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/07\/28\/rutgers-big-ten-basketball-preview-2024-25-historic-freshman-class\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">brought the hype<\/a> to New Jersey. Now, they need to bring the wins.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Looking to be Rutgers\u2019 highest draft picks since James Bailey was selected sixth overall by the Seattle SuperSonics in 1979, Scarlet Knights freshmen Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper have enlisted the help of none other than Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo. At 29 years old, Antetokounmpo has already racked up the hardware. He can put [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5008,"featured_media":98318,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[15,1608,62,3],"tags":[49399,49668,306,98,1858],"class_list":["post-98271","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bucks","category-basketball","category-nba","category-news","tag-ace-bailey","tag-dylan-harper","tag-giannis-antetokounmpo","tag-nba-draft","tag-rutgers-scarlet-knights"],"modified_by":"Quenton S Albertie","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98271","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5008"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=98271"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98271\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/98318"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=98271"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=98271"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=98271"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}