How Giannis Antetokounmpo's height combined with quickness off the dribble made him the only current NBA superstar to be elite without a 3-pt shot
Milwaukee Bucks superstar forward Giannis Antetokounmpo’s height and athleticism have allowed him to continue his dominance over the NBA to start the 2022-2023 season.
Through nine games, Antetokounmpo has averages of 31.8 points, 12.2 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.4 blocks per game on 54.2% shooting. His 31.8PPG currently ranks third in the NBA behind only superstar guards Luka Doncic (36.0PPG) and Stephen Curry (32.6PPG).
Antetokounmpo is doing this while averaging just 0.9 made 3-pointers per game on just 26.7% shooting from deep. Here is how he makes most of his offensive impact.
First off, at 7-foot, 243 pounds, Giannis Antetokounmpo’s height and size give him an obvious physical advantage over most NBA players. Combine this with his elite athleticism and it almost seems unfair.
Antetokounmpo is currently shooting a ridiculous 84-for-112 (75.0%) from within five feet of the rim this season. In contrast, he is shooting just 19/78 (24.4%) from all other areas of the court.
When Antetokounmpo catches the ball down low, he often has the ability to just rise up over his opponents for strong finishes. Likewise, when he gets a full head of steam in transition, he's like a freight train coming down the lane that can’t be stopped. Antetokounmpo gets a lot of easy second-chance points off of offensive rebounds.
However, Giannis Antetokounmpo does have some finesse to his game as well. As he uses his agility to get past defenders, Antetokounmpo often makes great use of Eurosteps and finger rolls in the paint.
His length allows him to finish some tough layups as well. This season Antetokounmpo is shooting 20-for-23 (87.0%) on finger roll attempts, 53-for-78 (67.9%) on layups, and 28-for-31 (90.3%) on dunk attempts.
For Giannis Antetokounmpo's full shot chart, click here.
Overall, Giannis Antetokounmpo’s height and athleticism basically make him a modern-day cheat code. His style of play may not be as flashy as some of the top perimeter players in the league. But there’s no denying his effectiveness as he’s currently the best player on the best team in the league (Bucks 9-1 record).
Is Giannis Antetokounmpo’s height and limited offensive game disqualifying him from being the NBA’s best player?
Despite his dominance, many NBA fans still argue that Giannis Antetokounmpo’s height and limited offensive game prevent him from being the NBA’s best player. The “pure hooper” narrative has become very popular on NBA social media. This is basically where fans judge players based on their pure basketball skills and pound-for-pound ability.
However, that doesn’t change the fact that the NBA is a game where height and athleticism play a huge factor. The harsh reality is that there are plenty of talented hoopers around the world who may have more pure skill than Antetokounmpo. But many will never make it to the NBA due to their physical limitations.
Antetokounmpo is never going to beat Stephen Curry in a 3-point shootout and he’s never going to be as smooth in the midrange as Kevin Durant. But given the chance to start a franchise with one player, a majority of NBA general managers would still choose Antetokounmpo.
In the NBA’s annual GM survey conducted last month, 55.0% of GMs said they would start their franchise with Antetokounmpo. Between his dominant low-post offensive presence and elite rim protection, it’s just easier to build a contender around him.
So, while he may not be a pure hooper, most would probably agree that Giannis Antetokounmpo’s height and athleticism don’t limit his greatness at all.
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