The Milwaukee Bucks secured their first NBA championship in 50 years in the course of the 2020-2021 season, with Giannis Antetokounmpo main the way in which. Nevertheless, since that title, the workforce has confronted criticism for falling quick within the subsequent seasons.
Following the championship, the Bucks have been eradicated by the Boston Celtics within the 2022 Jap Convention Semifinals. Within the two seasons that adopted, the Bucks have been bounced within the first spherical of the playoffs, resulting in requires adjustments of their fashion of play.
Antetokounmpo just lately addressed these criticisms on the Thanalysis podcast, hosted by his brother, stating that he doesn’t really feel the necessity to change his recreation, as there isn’t any participant fairly like him. “Luka [Dončić] or Shai [Gilgeous-Alexander] clearly have nice issues of their recreation,” Antetokounmpo mentioned. “They’re very, very gifted in lots of elements of basketball.”
“However there’s by no means been one other individual like me,” he continued. “So, why would I attempt to change? I simply must evolve Giannis, and that’s been my mindset all yr: evolve Giannis each single day. Evolve Giannis, bro. And it’s been working up to now.”
Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks dunks towards the Orlando Magic throughout a recreation within the NBA Emirates Cup Quarterfinal at Fiserv Discussion board. (Stacy Revere/Getty Pictures)
Antetokounmpo and his midrange shot enchancment
One space the place Antetokounmpo has noticeably improved is his midrange taking pictures, which had been a weak spot in earlier seasons. Whereas it is probably not his strongest ability, Antetokounmpo emphasised the work he put in to enhance this facet of his recreation as a result of he knew it was vital.
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“Let me offer you an fascinating reality: Final yr, the entire yr, I made 36 midrange photographs. This yr, I believe I’m already at 55, and it’s solely been 23 video games. Meaning that is turning into my recreation,” Antetokounmpo mentioned. “It’s a kind of issues the place I had no selection. You need to evolve.”
“And I’m nonetheless engaged on it. I’m making photographs, I’m turning into extra snug, however I really feel like I could make them at a better clip,” he continued. “Subsequent yr, I need to shoot them at an excellent larger clip. I really feel like different gamers shoot them far more usually than I do.”
Giannis’ fearless mindset
Antetokounmpo’s dominant fashion of play is likely one of the causes he’s thought-about top-of-the-line gamers within the NBA. Throughout the identical interview along with his brother, he opened up in regards to the supply of his fearless mindset. “Now, about fearlessness: it’s my nature to be fearless,” Antetokounmpo mentioned. “On the finish of the day, I consider that we solely dwell as soon as. You realize what I’m saying? At some point, it’s all going to finish. So, what am I petrified of?”
“There are moments after I’ve come down the court docket, like 3-on-4, and I had an angle to drive, however as a substitute, I used to be like, ‘No, I’m taking pictures a 3.’ Airball. Anyone else would possibly fold after that. However me? I don’t care,” he continued. “I’ve air-balled free throws, turned the ball over, missed game-winning photographs—I don’t care, man. You’ll be able to’t return and alter it, so I simply maintain going. I solely dwell as soon as.”
