For the primary time in his 11-year profession, Giannis Antetokounmpo goes by a season outlined by change.
In his time with the Milwaukee Bucks, Antetokounmpo has seen all of it. He’s been by two possession adjustments, 5 teaching adjustments and innumerable roster adjustments. He’s seen in-season trades, offseason strikes and all the pieces in between.
However by no means has one season featured a lot instability.
Take a look at all the pieces that has transpired for the reason that final time Antetokounmpo returned to Milwaukee from the NBA All-Star Sport.
On April 14, 2023, proper earlier than final season’s playoffs, the NBA Board of Governors permitted the Bucks possession share buy by Haslam Sports activities Group. Two weeks later, after an harm that sidelined Antetokounmpo for 2 and a half video games, the No. 8 Miami Warmth upset the No. 1 seeded Bucks in 5 video games. Every week after the loss to the Warmth, the Bucks parted methods with head coach Mike Budenholzer. A month after firing Budenholzer, the Bucks formally employed head coach Adrian Griffin on June 5, 2023.
Nevertheless it didn’t cease there. On the finish of September, simply days earlier than the beginning of this season’s coaching camp, the Bucks pulled off the beautiful commerce for All-Star level guard Damian Lillard. A month later, Antetokounmpo signed an extension to stay with the Bucks by the 2026-27 season.
Then, after an uneven and typically chaotic begin to the season, the Bucks dismissed Griffin on Jan. 23 and employed Doc Rivers as their new head coach three days later. Because the Bucks return from the All-Star break, they want to discover their footing with a brand new coach in a season not like any that Antetokounmpo has skilled earlier than.
In a wide-ranging, unique interview with The Athletic heading into the All-Star break, Antetokounmpo mirrored on all of it: the ill-fated Griffin chapter, the necessity for him to change into a extra vocal chief throughout these difficult instances, the early days with Doc Rivers, his relationship with Damian Lillard and the fixed theme of change that has surrounded these previous 10 months.
“It’s been exhausting as a result of so many adjustments, so many accidents, so, so many issues,” Antetokounmpo advised The Athletic. “Plenty of issues, up and down. Adjustments, as I stated, sport plan, construction, all the BS.
“We are able to begin from f—— possession, modified. Coach, modified. Coach, modified once more. Star gamers, modified. From Khris being out and in. Like a lot f—— s—. It’s simply up and down. Up and down. So many issues altering, man. However we acquired to remain collectively, I don’t prefer to victimize myself. I don’t prefer to really feel dangerous about myself. That’s not who I’m.”
Regardless of the tumult, Antetokounmpo has managed to place collectively one in all his finest particular person seasons.
He’s averaging greater than 30 factors per sport (30.8) for simply the second time in his profession, with the primary coming final season. He’s additionally averaging a career-high 6.4 assists and 11.2 rebounds. On high of that, Antetokounmpo has performed in 54 of the Bucks’ 56 video games this season in Yr No. 11. That places him on tempo to play 79 video games, which might be essentially the most video games he has performed since showing 80 video games in his fourth NBA season.
If Antetokounmpo ends the season with these numbers, he would be a part of Oscar Robertson as the one participant in NBA historical past with per-game season averages of 30 factors, 11 rebounds and 6 assists (Robertson posted these numbers – 30.8 factors per sport, 12.5 rebounds and 11.4 assists – whereas averaging a triple-double within the 1961-62 season).
On high of that, this has been essentially the most environment friendly season of Antetokounmpo’s profession, posting profession highs in efficient discipline purpose share (62.7 %) and true taking pictures share (65.1 %). He has eradicated a lot of the 3-point makes an attempt from his repertoire and his rim ending seems to be an terrible lot prefer it did throughout his first MVP season in 2019.
In that season, Antetokounmpo took a career-high 66 % of his photographs on the rim and made 81 % of these makes an attempt, in response to Cleansing the Glass. This season, Antetokounmpo is as soon as once more taking 66 % of his photographs on the rim, tying his career-high, and making 78 % of these makes an attempt, whereas dunking considerably lower than he did within the 2018-19 season.
But, at this level in Antetokounmpo’s storied profession, his seasons are judged by staff success. It’s a actuality that the Bucks ahead understands and accepts. With so many particular person accolades, the two-time MVP and eight-time NBA All-Star ahead is aware of his seasons will solely be considered as profitable if the Bucks not solely compete for championships however win the entire thing.
And that, as he sees it, signifies that Antetokounmpo should nonetheless discover a option to do much more for this Bucks staff that sits in third place within the Japanese Convention at 35-21, 8.5 video games behind the first-place Boston Celtics.
“Personally, I’ve to maintain on pushing,” Antetokounmpo advised The Athletic. “If I’ve to speak extra within the movie periods like I’ve been doing all 12 months, if I’ve to f—ing seize the f—ing board and write one thing down — if I don’t, I don’t know — however you can not simply let alternatives like this go to waste.
“I really feel like I don’t wish to look again and be like, ‘Rattling, I had some nice groups and I wasn’t capable of recover from the hump.’ We have now to cease feeling dangerous about ourselves. I’m bored with this. We have now to cease doing that. Issues usually are not going to be given to us. We have now to go and take it. Like I’ve performed with guys that by no means felt dangerous about themselves. Got here in, did their job, went house, did their job, went house, did their job. That’s what we’ve to do. We’re not doing it proper now, however hopefully we will do it.”
They actually weren’t capable of do it within the first half of the season. And Griffin, whose Bucks tenure started with a nod of approval from Antetokounmpo within the interview course of, paid the worth.
Whereas the Bucks compiled a 30-13 document with him on the helm, gamers often spent their postgame media periods discussing the staff’s disorganization. Whether or not they have been complaints of mismanaged end-of-game conditions in Las Vegas or difficulties understanding what the staff was attempting to perform defensively in Houston, the Bucks lacked cohesion on each ends of the ground.
That led to Antetokounmpo placing extra on his personal shoulders as a pacesetter, which included strolling teammates by drills in observe, drawing up performs and diagramming actions greater than he ever has in his profession and being way more vocal as a pacesetter.
“I simply needed to do it. I needed to be extra vocal this 12 months,” Antetokounmpo stated. “Issues (weren’t) the best way they have been alleged to be, how can I say it? The final couple of years, I’m used to a particular construction of issues, a particular tradition, there’s a sure approach that you need to do issues so as so that you can win video games, you already know?
“And if that degree shouldn’t be being met, as a pacesetter, you need to push that envelope. Push everyone, your teaching workers, your teammates.”
Even with Antetokounmpo’s extra vocal management, the Bucks couldn’t handle to get on the identical web page on each ends of the ground. So normal supervisor Jon Horst, in addition to the Bucks possession group, determined to make a change and employed veteran head coach Doc Rivers to run the present.
Beneath Rivers, the Bucks received simply three of their 10 video games earlier than the All-Star break, however that hasn’t materially modified what Antetokounmpo feels his new head coach has delivered to him in Milwaukee.
“Some peace of thoughts,” Antetokounmpo stated. “He’s powerful. He’s Doc f—ing Rivers. He is aware of his s—. Similar factor for Coach Bud. Similar with Joe Prunty, J-Kidd. And Coach Griff was an important coach, an important particular person to work with, however, on the finish of the day, it was his first time.
“He was figuring issues out, easy methods to lead a bunch of men, easy methods to function with star gamers and typically, that is likely to be exhausting. I feel everyone did job. His teaching workers did job too, serving to him and making him alter and I feel he did an incredible job main us to a 30-13 document, however Coach Doc has received 1,100 video games. So it’s completely totally different.”
The Bucks are 3-7 below coach Doc Rivers in his first 10 video games as coach. (Benny Sieu / USA TODAY)
With a veteran coach on the helm, Antetokounmpo appears like fairly a bit has been taken off of his plate.
“Now it’s nearly like I don’t have to try this anymore,” Antetokounmpo stated of the additional emphasis he had placed on management to begin the season below Griffin. “I simply must preserve the fellows collectively and attempt to go on the market and attempt to win.
“Coach Doc, he’s an important man, been within the league for lots of years, received a variety of video games. Such as you go to mattress, you sleep nicely at evening. Win or lose, you already know that the teaching workers goes to be ready. And never simply him, from Rex (Kalamian), from Dave Joerger, like come on, man, Joe Prunty, we’ve guys which can be extraordinarily good and know the sport of basketball. So, from that side, you don’t have to fret anymore.”
Whereas Antetokounmpo may not really feel like he must spend as a lot of his psychological and emotional bandwidth organizing his teammates with Rivers main, the Bucks are nonetheless removed from being true title contenders. Whereas they actually have the expertise to stay with any staff when wholesome, their kind has been inconsistent all through the season.
“It drives me loopy,” Antetokounmpo stated. “It drives me loopy, I’m not gonna lie … Like, (towards Denver), I felt like. ‘Hmm, we acquired one thing happening right here.’ Now, (towards Miami), I really feel horrible. However there’s going to be ups and downs. We have now to maintain on working.”
“Coach Doc’s coached nice gamers, he’s coached nice groups. However our staff is totally different, it’s distinctive. (There are) issues which were working and issues that haven’t been working. They’ve added so many new issues that we’re like, ‘Oh, s—. We are able to reap the benefits of this.’ And there are some issues that we’ve to get better.
“We have now to maintain on evolving. We don’t have to alter our id. After all, we gotta be stronger. We gotta be more durable. I’ve to play higher. I’ve to see the sport higher. However we’ve to maintain on evolving. We have now so as to add coach Doc’s philosophy with what has been working and hopefully can create an important combine for the following 25 video games that we’ve and compete within the playoffs.”
Bettering the Bucks protection was one in all Rivers’ high priorities when he took over in Milwaukee and he has achieved that, regardless of going through one of many league’s hardest schedules over the 2 weeks earlier than the All-Star break. Throughout Rivers’ tenure, the Bucks have been the league’s tenth finest protection. Beneath Griffin, they have been twenty first in defensive ranking.
However whereas the staff has discovered a better degree on protection, it has misplaced its approach on offense. Whereas the Bucks have been second in offensive effectivity below Griffin, the Bucks have been twenty fourth in the identical class below Rivers, scoring 111.9 factors per 100 possessions.
And whereas Rivers was adamant that the Bucks wanted to be defensive staff to compete for a championship this season when he first arrived in Milwaukee, the Bucks might want to discover a option to be nice on each ends.
If the Bucks wish to contend for an NBA title this season, they should pair nice offense with nice protection. And as Rivers emphasised when he took the job, the Bucks must discover a approach to assist Lillard carry out at a better degree.
In 51 video games with the Bucks, the 33-year-old level guard has put up 24.6 factors, 4.6 rebounds and 6.7 assists per sport – strong sufficient numbers to place him in place to begin his first All-Star Sport this previous weekend – however as Lillard himself has mentioned at size, it’s totally different than what he was capable of do because the chief of the Portland Path Blazers for the final decade.
As soon as Lillard turned a high-usage, 25-point-per-game scorer in his fourth season, he averaged 27.5 factors, 4.5 rebounds and seven assists per sport over the following eight seasons. He shot 44.3 % from the sphere and 37.4 % from behind the 3-point line throughout that span.
In Milwaukee, Lillard has made 42.3 % of his photographs from the sphere and solely 34.1 % from deep.
If the Bucks are going to remodel into contenders this season, it should require getting extra out of Lillard. Nobody is aware of that higher than Antetokounmpo.
All season lengthy, Antetokounmpo and Lillard have been peppered with questions on their pick-and-roll partnership. And whereas the Bucks have found success while running pick-and-rolls with Antetokounmpo and Lillard, after two-thirds of a season collectively, Antetokounmpo believes the Bucks nonetheless have extra work to do to make that motion more practical and a bigger a part of their offensive assault.
“It must be natural,” Antetokounmpo stated. “It can’t simply be, ‘Give the ball to Dame. Giannis set the display screen. It’s going to work.’ It doesn’t work like that. Whereas we’re working, guys must be shifting, holding guys occupied. Whereas the choose and roll is going on, guys have to alter spots, so the load males are occupied. Whereas issues are happening, Brook’s gotta dive. Whereas this is happening, any person has to go for the offensive rebound. Like, that’s the way it works.
“It’s not (so simple as) ‘You go set the display screen’… The times that it’s inside the movement of the offense — I come set one, he hits me, I come again, I hit him — that’s after we’re discovering success.”
For these issues to occur organically, Antetokounmpo wants to seek out extra methods for Lillard to seek out his offensive movement exterior of simply excessive pick-and-rolls with Antetokounmpo. Because the season has progressed, Antetokounmpo has began to choose up on these tendencies.
“One of many issues that I see, after I rebound, early in transition, throwing the ball forward to Dame, it permits him to function at a excessive degree,” Antetokounmpo stated. “From 3s, from driving the ball, getting and-ones, getting within the paint. Like after they’re loading (up) and also you throw the ball forward and also you let him function, it’s excellent for him. It’s actually, actually good. Additionally, I attempt to set as many screens as I can for him to have the ability to function.”
Through the Bucks’ title-contending seasons, Antetokounmpo has labored often with Khris Middleton, his teammate of 11 seasons. And whereas Antetokounmpo thought a part of the rationale why he struggled to seek out pick-and-roll chemistry with Lillard by the primary quarter of the season was their unfamiliarity with one another, he has since discovered which may even have extra to do with Lillard’s tendencies and strengths within the pick-and-roll.
“The opposite factor is, you gotta give him area,” Antetokounmpo stated. “You gotta give him area. Like he’s not like Khris, you don’t must all the time set screens for him to ensure that him to get that little area to function for the floater, for the mid-range, for the area for 2, or the behind-the-screen three. Khris is form of totally different.
“Typically, you’ll want to set screens for Dame. Typically, you’ve acquired to offer him area. Once I come down and also you see that I’m on the best aspect, he’s on the left aspect, I all the time throw the ball sideways to him as a result of as soon as they’re loading and I throw it there, he simply operates. That’s been serving to the staff.”
If the Bucks wish to meet their postseason objectives, Damian Lillard and Antetokounmpo might want to discover a post-All-Star Sport rhythm. (Petre Thomas / USA At the moment)
Antetokounmpo and Lillard acquired a head begin on the work that must be performed within the last third of the season this previous weekend as a part of NBA All-Star festivities. Lillard had a large weekend taking house each the NBA 3-Level Contest championship, in addition to All-Star Sport MVP, however because the veteran level guard laid out following the Japanese Convention’s win, the time they spent collectively might need been much more necessary than something that occurred on the court docket.
GO DEEPER
Damian Lillard turns All-Star Weekend into Dame Time with sport MVP, 3-Level Contest win
“Whenever you go someplace exterior of your staff with a teammate, you often naturally flip to one another extra, simply a variety of dialog,” Lillard stated. “I feel it was only a constructive weekend for us as a result of we simply had a variety of interactions.
“We have been capable of have conversations about the place our staff has been currently and what we wish to do, how we will help one another higher. When you may break free from not solely the season and have All-Star break, but in addition break free from the staff and have the ability to simply be man-to-man and simply bond like that, it’s all the time useful.”
Now, they should put what they discovered over the weekend to make use of and work out easy methods to attain their full potential collectively earlier than they begin their first playoff journey collectively in two months.
Ultimately, as Antetokounmpo is aware of, Lillard merely should perceive that the Bucks are actually his franchise as nicely. However contemplating the large half Antetokounmpo has performed since arriving in Milwaukee again in 2013, and his place in Bucks lore after the 2021 NBA title, that type of celebrity steadiness has confirmed extra evasive than the pair initially anticipated.
Antetokounmpo is the franchise’s all-time main scorer. His private emblem adorns the hallway exterior of the Bucks locker room in Fiserv Discussion board. He’s, for all intents and functions, the face of Bucks basketball.
For this to work, Antetokounmpo defined, Lillard must know that one of the best participant in Bucks franchise historical past is able to hand him the keys within the moments that matter most. And if the Bucks are going to compete for a championship this season, Lillard might want to take over identical to he did throughout all these “Dame Time” years in Portland.
“I’m his largest fan,” Antetokounmpo stated. “Good or dangerous, I experience with Dame till the f—ing finish. I experience with Dame. Like I’ve been saying this again and again. This. Is. His. Crew. Down the stretch, he’s going to get the ball. There’s nothing else that we are going to do. I don’t know the way else to place it. I don’t know what else to say.
“However on the finish of the day, he has to consider it too.”
(High photograph of Giannis Antetokounmpo: Justin Ford / Getty Photographs)