Giannis Antetokounmpo is still not a finished product.
That sounds absurd when you consider the "Greek Freak" has amassed 18,868 career points, two MVPs and one Finals MVP all before his 30th birthday. But to assume he is already the best version of himself is not true. For years, analysts implored Antetokounmpo to improve his pull-up jumper, arguing that a reliable jump shot would help him become more dominant — if that's even possible.
To Antetokounmpo's credit, he never shied away from the fact that a weak jump shot was the only chink in his armor. He went to the lab this past offseason, no different than any other summer, and worked tirelessly on his jumper. And the fruits of his labor are finally starting to pay off.
During his season-high 59-point game on Wednesday, the Greek star made three jumpers in the OT period — two from midrange and one from three — as the Bucks avoided an embarrassing loss to the Pistons. For the game, he shot 21-of-34, with 11 of those makes coming from outside the paint area. That's an unprecedented shot chart for a player who typically attempts two-thirds of his field goals in the restricted area upon bulldozing his way to the rim.
Giannis goes 5-5 to seal the OT win...
— NBA (@NBA) November 14, 2024
He caps a 59-POINT night pic.twitter.com/pu3NJ8yT92
In fact, his drastically-improved jumper has held him in good stead for much of the young season. Through 10 games, Antetokounmpo is converting on a respectable 41.3 percent of his pull-up shots (1.9 FGM from 4.6 FGA). In comparison, he shot 31.5 percent on pull-ups last season (1.2 FGM from 3.7 FGA).
The Bucks star will never turn into a sniper like Kevin Durant. But a marginal improvement in his pull-up game is all he needs to become all the more un-guardable, especially in the playoffs when coaches build "a wall" to stop him from getting to the rim. And he possesses the work ethic to turn into that exact player, if he hasn't already.
Giannis in the OT win:
— StatMuse (@statmuse) November 14, 2024
59 PTS (most by a player this season)
14 REB
7 AST
2 STL
3 BLK
1 3P
The first player ever to reach those numbers in a game. pic.twitter.com/e8lWqP4iP0
Antetokounmpo is primed to become the only player to average 30 PPG on 60% shooting for two consecutive seasons.
And he's still not a finished product.
Giannis Antetokounmpo this season:
— StatMamba (@StatMamba) November 14, 2024
33.3 PPG
12.1 RPG
5.5 APG
61.6% FG
Would be his second season averaging 30 PPG on 60% FG, nobody else in history has done it once. pic.twitter.com/W04feEmelQ
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