Giannis 'Superman' Antetokounmpo is Flourishing in the New Bucks System

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Sergio Estrada Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports

It seems like forever ago now, but when the Milwaukee Bucks fired Jason Kidd after a 23-22 start last season, Giannis Antetokounmpo was the first to jump to his former head coach’s defense. Reports surfaced that Antetokounmpo was ready to call the owners and even his agent to try and figure something out to try and keep him. Who can blame Giannis, though, as Kidd was his first legit coach at the NBA level, not counting the short-lived Larry Drew. There was definitely some emotional attachment there.

As much as it was time for Kidd to move on, Giannis wasn’t ready to accept it even though it was for the best. There was too much frustration within the organization. The team’s performance was inconsistent, and patience was wearing thin. With Giannis so upset, many thought it might leave a stain on his relationship with the organization. But judging by the way things have gone over the last 10 months, it’s safe to say that Giannis may no longer be missing his former coach.

After finishing the season with a playoff appearance, the Bucks made some significant changes. The most important was bringing in the right head coach that could unlock a lot of this team’s potential and get them to the next level. The timing couldn’t be better with Mike Budenholzer being available and if you just go off the first quarter of the season, it has been a match made in heaven.

The Bucks have blitzed out to a 15-6 record which included a 7-0 start and even a 23-point road victory over the defending champion Golden State Warriors back on November 8. Not only are they scoring a lot of points, leading the league at 120.8 per game, they are also excelling on the defensive end. They are currently first in offensive efficiency and seventh in defensive efficiency, just percentage points from the top five where they have been most of the season.

Understanding there is still a long way to go with three-quarters of the season left, it’s still an impressive stat that shouldn’t go unnoticed. To put it in perspective, there have been an average of just one team per season to finish in the top five in offense and defense since the 2009-2010 season and just three have gone on to win the title including the Warriors twice (2014-15 & 2016-2017) and the San Antonio Spurs in 2013-2014.

There’s a New Superman in Town

Who said one nickname is enough? Well, when you are as gifted and talented as the Greek Freak is, there’s always plenty of room for more. Not to mention, when you have a last name like Antetokounmpo, it’s already tough to say no matter how many times you say it. While the Greek Freak is already catchy enough, all-time NBA great Shaquille O’Neal has officially endorsed and given the nickname ‘Superman’ to Giannis during an appearance on the Stephen A. Smith radio show Thursday morning. In fact, the four-time NBA Champion doubled-down later on an appearance with NBA TV.

The Greek Freak has picked up from where he left off last year and then some, averaging career highs of 27.3 points, 12.9 rebounds and 6.0 assists through 20 games this season. His steals (1.5) and blocks (1.3) numbers are still there as well as he continues to be a monster on both ends of the floor. But what really stands out, and a big reason as to why Shaq has relinquished the Superman name, has been his dominance in the paint. Giannis currently leads the league in dunks with 97 while Utah’s Rudy Gobert is second with 87. While he has made five less two-point field goals than Kevin Durant (208-203), Giannis has him beat in percentage (65.3% – 56.1%) while taking 60 less attempts.

The Greek Freak continues to have no problems getting to the basket at will and it has a lot to do with the fact that Milwaukee has become one of the best three-point shooting teams in the league. Watching this Bucks team kind of reminds me of the 2008-2009 Orlando Magic team that went to the finals behind Dwight Howard, who was so dominant inside with a plethora of shooters around him at all times. The offense seemed pretty simple; Dwight would control the paint while four shooters spread the floor. If teams double-teamed Howard down low, he would kick out to open shooter’s such as Hedo Turkoglu, Mickael Pietrus and Rashard Lewis.

I really hate to compare Giannis to Howard because they are completely different players, but you get the idea. What separates Giannis from a Dwight Howard is that he’s obviously not a back to the basket player by any means. We all know that Giannis is so much more in that he handles the ball, has control of the entire offense and is the ultimate play-maker.

Once again, the Greek Freak has struggled to shoot from the three at just a 12% clip (6-51) through a quarter of the season, but there’s not really a need for him to take them when he can move more freely inside the paint and find shooters like Khris Middleton, Eric Bledsoe, Malcolm Brogdon and Brook Lopez, who the Bucks have no problem hanging out around the perimeter as their so-called center. Even Shaq made went on with comments defending the newly named Superman and his shooting woes.

"I didn't hit no 3-pointer either, but he's dominating and that's what I like,” Shaq told Stephen A. Smith. “He's dominating in the paint. You taking it to the hole. You throwing it down. You ain't shooting no flip shots. And you know what? I don't want to encourage big guys to shoot jumpers and 3-pointers. Stay your big ass on the inside and dominate like you been doing. So, I denounce myself as Superman and I'm giving to the 'Greek Freak.' You heard it here first."

Bottom Line

A lot of people knew Shaquille O’Neal as Diesel and of course Superman, so it’s quite the compliment when the nickname comes straight from the 2000 NBA MVP. Speaking of MVP talk, it’s no surprise that Giannis’ name comes up as one of the top contenders for the award this season after a top five finish last season. But after the Bucks impressive start that includes an 11-2 record at the Fiserv Forum, he finds himself as the frontrunner ahead of guys such as Anthony Davis, Kawhi Leonard, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and last year’s winner James Harden. "The Greek Freak is the MVP right now," O'Neal said. "How about that?"

The Bucks have done a nice job sustaining their hot start, but if Giannis wants to keep his new nickname and stay atop the MVP race, they have to stay focused and true to their identity. It’s a long season and even Giannis hasn’t felt fully confident yet which is not a good sign for the rest of the league.

The schedule only gets longer and tougher from here on out. During the first half of December, they will several games within the division including a rematch against the East leading Raptors and will also welcome the defending champion Warriors a week from now. Once Superman hits his stride, just how much better will this team be? Make sure you are there to find out.