After being drafted last season 15th overall in The 2013 NBA Draft a project player that has the hands the measure out to 15 inches and a player that currently stands at 6’11 after growing two inches in height since last season. You may know him as “The Greek Freak” or Giannis Antetokounmpo, and all signs point to a break out season from the 19 year old. Giannis had a solid rookie campaign showing some flashes of what he could eventually be on a night to night basis. When Milwaukee drafted him last season everyone knew he would be the epitome of a project player, and it was a good risk to take for a franchise like Milwaukee that desperately needs a star.
During the off season The Bucks went through a soap opera-like head coaching change when Larry Drew was replaced by Brooklyn Nets Head Coach Jason Kidd. Kidd’s first big move as a Head Coach involved a Hall of Famer Gary Payton who will be playing the mentor role to Giannis during training camp and pre season to work on his Point Guard skills. The height differential between Giannis and every point guard in the league is an unfair advantage. The player that comes the closest to Giannis’s height is Michael Carter-Williams at 6’6 which is a 5 inch difference. In pre-season action though we’ve seen he has the skills to play Point Guard, but the big concern for him will be turnovers which doesn’t seem to be an issue for him right now.
Last season The Bucks were a train wreck obviously their 15-67 record speaks for itself. This season might be a little different though with a healthy Larry Sanders back and #2 overall pick Jabari Parker he will take the reigns as The Bucks go-to scoring option, but Giannis will also play a big part as their second option. If Giannis can make the transition to starting Point Guard and be successful at it this should draw some great mismatches in The Bucks favor.
One thing that could hinder Giannis’s potential is his growth. No I don’t mean his work ethic and I’m not stating he cannot progress and become something great, but the 19 year old states he’s not done growing yet. He thinks he will reach the 7’0-7’1 region and that could be something we’ve never seen a 7’0 Point Guard or it could hinder his health. With a player at that height we’ve all seen players with their shares of career threatening or ending, but one player that came to mind immediately was Jonathan Bender. Bender wasn’t as athletic as Giannis, but Bender was a 7 footer that moved like a wingman. Bender’s main problem was the injuries which lead to his career never taking off. I don’t foresee injuries being an issue considering Giannis doesn’t have an injury history but it still makes you curious if a player of his height could play the position at a high level at the height of 7’0 if he does reach that.
The reason I don’t fear for Giannis injury wise is the injury history he doesn’t have one and he plays a similar game to Kevin Durant so it can be done. The big hurdle now is learning the Point Guard position and he has the perfect mentors in Jason Kidd and Gary Payton. Giannis will have a big year and will be in talks for the Most Improved Player this season and will make things interesting for Milwaukee Bucks and basketball fans this season, but he could become something we’ve never seen at the Point Guard position.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADGJpu3taB4
