Giannis tunes out praise, focuses on game
St. Francis — Praise and accolades have followed Giannis Antetokounmpo throughout a busy off-season.
A few more dollars — make that $100 million more — will be coming the Greek Freak’s way after the current season thanks to a contract extension he signed in September.
Teammates and opponents alike have said it’s time for the 6-foot-11 Antetokounmpo to break through to all-star status.
NBA general managers recently named him the league’s top international player, ahead of Marc and Pau Gasol and Dirk Nowitzki.
But is it too much, too soon? Can the 21-year-old handle all the attention and keep his focus on the game?
As the Milwaukee Bucks prepare for their regular-season opener against Charlotte on Wednesday night at the BMO Harris Bradley Center, all signs are pointing upward for the point guard/forward/any position you want to call it.
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“I use it as motivation,” Antetokounmpo said of all the talk about what he can do. “I have one mind-set. My mind-set is to get better every day.
“I feel like I’m in this position right now because I had that mind-set my whole career.
“So I’m not going to change. I’m not going to think, ‘Oh, this year I might be an all-star or this year I’ve got to average 20 points per game.’ No.”
Antetokounmpo went on a triple-double spree late in his third season after coach Jason Kidd moved him to point guard.
A light went on as the youngster learned more about the game and recorded four triple-doubles in an 11-game span and five in 20 games. He finished fourth in the league in triple-doubles with five.
“We wanted to put him in the middle of everything and have him digest what’s going on as a point guard,” Kidd said. “So as life goes on with basketball, on the ball, off the ball, he understands all the parts.
“For him to digest all that at the age of 21 will only make him better as time goes on.”
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There are advantages to being nearly a 7-foot point guard. But turnovers do happen to even the best ball-handling guards.
“He wants it; he’s asked for it,” Kidd said. “Our job is to help him get better.
“There are going to be times he’s going to have a turnover or two. But I played that position and led the league in turnovers. That’s just part of the gig.
“He’s trying the right thing; it’s not like he can’t handle it. We saw a small dose of it last season, so we’ll see how it goes this year.”
One important move the Bucks made in the off-season was to sign point guard Matthew Dellavedova, a player the team had eyed for about two years. The 6-4 Dellavedova provides another ball-handler to relieve Antetokounmpo from having to initiate the offense every time.
“I think it helps to have a guy who understands how to play that position,” Kidd said. “He can play alongside Giannis or run the team.
“Delly fits what we were looking for, to be able to help guys (off the ball) but also to be able to put guys in position to be successful if he (Dellavedova) is handling the ball.”
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Antetokounmpo is a sensational dunker and shot blocker, making highlight plays a nightly occurrence. He has worked hard to improve his outside shot after connecting on just 26% of his three-point attempts last season.
“Giannis is an incredible talent, great person,” new teammate Mirza Teletovic said. “He talks a lot, smiles a lot. The way his mentality is, he’s a future all-star and somebody who is going to be a great player for many years in this league.”
Bucks center Greg Monroe said it’s not an easy adjustment to make such a dramatic change, the way Antetokounmpo did in February when he became the primary ball-handler.
“At the end of the day, he’s still adjusting to a new position,” Monroe said. “We’re doing as much as we can to make him comfortable, to put him in the best situation to succeed.
“From what I see, I don’t think he’s feeling any pressure. He’s definitely worked for something like that. Knowing him as much as I do at this point, he’s probably using that as motivation instead of taking it as pressure.”
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Antetokounmpo finished third in the most improved player voting for the 2015-’16 season, behind winner C.J. McCollum of Portland and runner-up Kemba Walker of Charlotte.
If Antetokounmpo can become the Bucks’ first all-star since Michael Redd in 2004, it will be a big moment for the franchise. If he can lead the Bucks to become a winning team again, it will be even more remarkable.
“He’s been great and done everything we’ve asked,” Kidd said of Antetokounmpo’s off-season work. “He wants to be great.
“He understands how hard it is to be good in this league."