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Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo Sends Message To Front Office

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Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo

If he’s looking in the mirror, Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo is in the midst of yet another stellar season. The decorated veteran is averaging 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, 6.4 assists, 1.2 blocks, and 0.9 steals per game. It’s his third straight season posting at least 30 points, 11.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 1.5 stocks (steals + blocks) per game.

Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo Sends Silent Message To Front Office

Numbers only provide an outline of Antetokounmpo’s masterpiece — even the advanced or catch-all metrics that have become increasingly popular. Underneath the goofy dad jokes is a highly ambitious and attentive leader. As a result, despite being on the wrong side of 30, he looks better than ever.

He’s long been terrific when stampeding towards the rim, possessing the strength of a wildebeest but an avian’s aerial acrobatics. He continues to be among the league’s best defenders, whether on- or off-ball. However, the 30-year-old has finally added a reliable jumper to his game. Though it’s from the midrange, it helps him take advantage of the defense as a scorer or playmaker.

To that last point, tasked with more ball-handling duties due to Damian Lillard’s blood clot diagnosis, Antetokounmpo’s averaging an eye-popping 7.2 assists per game since the All-Star Break. Since Lillard’s absence, he’s averaging 8.3 assists per game. Interestingly, despite him hitting teammates for assists at a higher frequency, his turnover rate has been extremely low.

Over the course of the season, he’s been averaging 3.1 turnovers per game, his best mark since 2017-18. Since the All-Star Break, he’s been averaging 2.6 turnovers per game. In  this stretch without Lillard, he’s averaging 2.3 turnovers per game.

Asked by reporters what’s led to him being such an efficient facilitator and effective decision-maker, Antetokounmpo says:

“I feel like when I have the ball, I’m more poised because I have the ball. I’m not chasing the ball and when the ball comes to me, I don’t have to make a decision. Because usually, when I play with Dame, and the ball is swung to me, I got to make a quick decision because they’re loaded to Dame now. They’re off me for a second and sometimes I might get myself in trouble.

When I have the ball, I think I feel more poised. I get to my spots easier. I make the extra play — it might be an assist, or it might be a hockey assist, or a pass that creates an advantage for my teammate…”

“It’s almost like when you have the cookie jar and they’re like, ‘Okay, it’s yours, you can do whatever you want with it.,’ he continues.

“When you have it, you’re like ‘Okay, nobody’s going to take it from me.’ So you can take your time. But when the cookie jar is being passed around and your mom is like, ‘Ah! You can only have one’ … then you’re kind of in a hurry.”

Summing up his thoughts, Antetokounmpo relays: “I feel like when you have the ball more, you have more patience making plays and you’re not in a rush.”

For many, what sticks out about these comments is Antetokounmpo’s unwitting admission that he’s more comfortable without Lillard.

The duo had notable difficulty in their efforts to build chemistry, but sounded as if they truly clicked this season. If Antetokounmpo is talking like this though, perhaps there’s still trouble in paradise. A player with Lillard’s scoring ability is a weapon, even if it’s not completely necessary. Nevertheless, the Bucks were at their best with defensive-minded point guards like Jrue Holiday.

Rather than Lillard or Holiday, Khris Middleton was their secondary scorer and playmaker.

With that in mind, Middleton has since been replaced by Kyle Kuzma, whom Milwaukee traded for at the deadline. Unfortunately, Kuzma’s been underwhelming since the trade, at least offensively. In 30 games, he’s averaged 14.3 points per contest with a 1:1 assist-to-turnover ratio and shooting 29.6 percent from 3.

All of which begs the question: how long will Lillard and Kuzma last as Antetokounmpo’s sidekicks?

In the offseason, the Bucks should look to move both Lillard and Kuzma. One such scenario could see them making an offer for Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant, whose skillset complements Antetokounmpo’s quite well. His soft shooting stroke, underrated basketball IQ, and defensive ability all fit smoothly on paper.

© Jim Rassol-Imagn Images

The post Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo Sends Message To Front Office appeared first on Last Word On Basketball.