Giannis Antetokounmpo embrace three-point shot
Nigerian – Greek star Giannis Antetokounmpo is entering his sixth season in the NBA.
And the preseason is certainly a sight to behold, and we got plenty of it in the Milwaukee Bucks’ 115-119 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Amazingly, the bench crew for the Milwaukee Bucks were able to take a lead after the first quarter, outpacing an OKC crew 30-27 despite 19 first quarter points from Paul George. The second quarter didn’t fare nearly as well offensively for Milwaukee, but the fact their scrub units could hold their own against the Thunder and trail only 55-48 is particularly impressive.
Malcolm Brogdon and Tyler Zeller combined for 22 points as the primary scorers for the Bucks in those two periods. An even-scoring third for both teams led to a 79-72 advantage for OKC heading into the fourth. The Bucks got it close down the stretch, and managed to send it into overtime on a Tim Fraziersinker from deep. Despite that, they couldn’t pull it out in OT.
If Giannis Antetokounmpo can improve his outside shooting, he’ll be unstoppable.
Antetokounmpo has heard the talk. He’s watched for years as defenders have sagged off him, daring him to shoot instead of taking their chances with him dribbling into the paint.
In the past, Antetokounmpo’s mindset was he wasn’t going to settle for jumpers. They were all but served up to him on a silver platter and he couldn’t shoot every time down the court. So instead, he would try to force his way into the lane, sometimes drawing two or three defenders as he ventured into the teeth of the defense trying to make a play.
That’s all about to change. The age of Antetokounmpo embracing the three-point shot is nigh.
“I was trying to make plays, but this year, I’m shooting,” Antetokounmpo said, fresh off an extended three-point shooting session following Wednesday’s shootaround in Oklahoma City.
Giannis Antetokounmp has attempted 1.7 three-pointers per game over his five-year career, going 168 for 591 (28.4%).
“I’ve worked so much this summer on it and day by day I get more comfortable. I’m going to shoot more shots and hopefully I make more. If I don’t, there’s another year coming and hopefully next year I can be better and better and better and better and better. Eventually, it’s going to come.”
To this point in his career, Antetokounmpo has been a reticent three-point shooter. He’s attempted 1.7 three-pointers per game over his five-year career, going 168 for 591 (28.4%). There’s been a noticeable hesitation in his shot, with him only looking comfortable from certain spots and with a certain amount of space.
Antetokounmpo’s slow development could be traced to former Bucks coach Jason Kidd’s handling of his star. Kidd, who handed the keys to Antetokounmpo early in his tenure and undoubtedly helped form Antetokounmpo into the positionless, versatile juggernaut he is now, took a slow track on expanding Antetokounmpo’s shooting game.
At the Milwaukee Bucks media day Giannis Antetokounmpo spike about his commitment to improving.
After Antetokounmpo shot 34.7% on 118 three-point attempts as a rookie, Kidd told him to stop shooting from outside. That took a toll on Antetokounmpo.
“I think it was my second year he told me not to shoot the ball,” Antetokounmpo said. “Then my third year, at the end of the year, he told me to shoot the ball a little bit. In my fourth year, he let me shoot the ball and in my fifth year he told me, ‘You have the green light, do whatever you want,’ but I wasn’t comfortable enough. It’s hard. When you’re not shooting the ball, it’s hard to get back (to shooting).”
Antetokounmpo went from shooting a career-high 2.3 threes per game in 2016-’17 to just 1.8 per game last season, though he did get his percentage back over 30% (30.7%) for the first time since his rookie year. Still, his discomfort was apparent in his very calculated shot selection, which was limited to a couple spots beyond the arc, particularly three-pointers immediately after inbound passes.
Under new coach Mike Budenholzer, the approach to Antetokounmpo shooting three-pointers is already different. There’s no question what Budenholzer expects Antetokounmpo to do.
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