In a guest appearance on the Bill Simmons podcast, NBA legend Charles Barkley gave his candid take on 29-year-old Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks. According to Barkley, the only way for Giannis to win another title is to adapt his game and to “get better” on both ends of the floor.
“I’m not interested in Milwaukee at all,” said Barkley. “I think Giannis has to get better as a player. Just going downhill 1 on 5 isn’t going to work. He’s a terrific player and a terrific kid but he’s got to get better as a basketball player. So, no, I’m not a Milwaukee guy.”
On paper, the Bucks have one of the strongest rosters in the NBA. Led by 2x MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Bucks were projected as one of the favorites to win the title last year and those odds went up when they traded for Damian Lillard, the all-time leading scorer of the Portland Trail Blazers.
But even with Giannis, Lillard, and All-Star swingman Khris Middleton, the Bucks struggled to keep their heads above water. As Lillard was dealing with personal issues off the court, which inhibited his production, the Bucks had to endure several injuries to their key players, including Middleton, Brook Lopez, and even Giannis Antetokounmpo who missed most of the first round against the Indiana Pacers.
The Bucks finished the regular season with just 49 wins in the books, and they failed to advance past the first round against a 6th-seeded Pacers team. It was nothing short of a disaster for the franchise, especially considering that they were NBA champions just a few years ago.
Going into next season, the Bucks had no choice but to run it back and hope for the best but many fans agree with Barkley that something has to change for the team to pose a real threat. With averages of 30.4 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 6.5 assists per game last season, some might think of it as unfair to blame Giannis but only by adapting his game can the Bucks hope to compete for the title.
At 6’11” and 240+ pounds, Giannis has primarily used his size and strength to impose his will in the paint. To his credit, the method of running toward the rim and bulldozing his opponents worked to great effect when they won the championship in 2021. But the competition has only gotten better since then and the Bucks will need a new strategy if they want to keep up with the NBA’s elites.
Presumably, the Greek Freak learning how to shoot will open up everything for his team and it will add a new element to his game that will make him nearly unstoppable. As a 27% three-point shooter for his career, the long game has always been a weak point for Giannis and it’s always been the thing that’s held him back from reaching his ultimate potential.
If he wants another championship, Antetokounmpo may have to work overtime to develop a consistent jumper and catch up to the NBA’s top scorers who can do everything on offense (like Kevin Durant, Anthony Edwards, and the reigning MVP, Nikola Jokic).
If not, the Bucks may suffer a similar fate as last season when they were arguably the most disappointing team in the league. For Giannis’ sake, they should do everything they can to avoid another showing like that.
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