Giannis Antetokounmpo Set to Train with Hall of Fame Player

In 2024-25, Milwaukee Bucks hybrid forward Giannis Antetokounmpo had his third season scoring 30+ points per game, but this time it was different.

Bucks Leader Giannis Antetokounmpo Is Only Getting Better

For years, the running joke about the Greek Freak has been that he’s little more than a run-and-jump athlete. Perhaps it comes with the territory of being a physical marvel. At 6-foot-11, he has a 40-inch vertical and flies like the wind. After coming into the league as a stringy, 196-pound 19-year-old kid, he’s now amassed more than 40 pounds of muscle (he’s listed at 242 pounds).

Yet, Antetokounmpo has also just never been particularly efficient if he wasn’t charging or pirouetting towards the rim. For all of his size, he doesn’t have a go-to post move. His jumpers have often been errant, especially beyond the arc. However, that somewhat changed last season.

After the lights had flickered in 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2021-22, they finally came on in 2024-25. The decorated 12-year veteran had his most efficient season in the midrange, shooting 44.2% (per NBA.com). When shooting between 10-14 feet away from the rim, he canned 48.0% of his jumpers. When taking those long 2s between 15-19 feet away from the rim, he shot 45.1% from the field.

Hall of Fame Inductee Carmelo Anthony Green Lights Workout

After leading Greece to a bronze medal in EuroBasket 2025, Antetokounmpo sat down for an interview with Greece’s SPORT24. In that wide-ranging discussion, the 30-year-old was asked what NBA players he would want to workout with. While clarifying that he prefers to train with those who have already retired, he notes that he’d like to work with Carmelo Anthony, pointing out how his post-up and midrange scoring allowed him to score effortlessly.

February 26, 2012; Orlando FL, USA; Eastern Conference forward Carmelo Anthony (7) of the New York Knicks and guard Dwyane Wade (3) of the Miami Heat and forward LeBron James (6) of the Miami Heat during the 2012 NBA All-Star Game at the Amway Center. The Western Conference all-stars defeated the Eastern Conference all-stars 152-149. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Anthony, who was enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame earlier this month, has seen ‘the bat signal.’

Melo been ready to work with Giannis

Invite accepted @Giannis_An34 https://t.co/nA8BIXmiBR pic.twitter.com/KvSmaIu62n

— 7PM in Brooklyn (@7PMinBrooklyn) September 26, 2025

Let’s work,” he tells Antetokounmpo.

Not Resting On His Laurels

Sure, Antetokounmpo won’t be mistaken for Houston Rockets swingman Kevin Durant any time soon. Nevertheless, he’s certainly more refined than he was in 2020, when Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden (then with the Rockets) took a shot at his game. There’s now another Rockets player that’s questioning Antetokounmpo’s skill level, with center Alperen Sengun doubting his passing ability. And, ironically, the Bucks most valuable player wants to be utilized as more of a playmaker moving forward.

With that in mind, for as terrific as the Greco-Nigerian has been up to this point in his career, he’s not resting on his laurels. Everyone knows that he wants to win more championships, which is the reason people are wondering if he’ll ever leave the Bucks. However, he has more that he wants to bring out of himself.

There’s nothing small about Antetokounmpo anyhow, but that’s short of commendable.

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