Giannis Antetokounmpo is already one of the greatest scoring forces the NBA has ever seen. He recently became the sixth-youngest player in league history to reach 21,000 points, behind guys like Kevin Durant, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, and LeBron James. But the scary thought for people around the league is that he still has room to improve. He himself is aware of that. Giannis Antetokounmpo knows that to be one of the greatest, he has to continue to improve, especially the rest of his scoring package.
Why Giannis’ Latest Milestone Should Terrify the Rest of the NBA
Speaking with reporters after reaching the mark, Giannis sent some scary messages to the rest of the league. He said,
“First of all, we have to talk about who those guys are because I just saw those guys. I think it’s the GOATs of the GOATs. And I don’t think anybody disagrees in this room. I don’t think anybody in this world disagrees; just to be on that list with them is incredible. Have I accomplished as much as them? I don’t think so. Do I have a lot of room to improve and room to grow in years to keep on writing my own legacy? Yes.”
And that is the scary thing for people in the league. Yes, he is 31 years old, but Jordan won three titles after turning 31. LeBron won his third championship at 31 and then continued to add to his game. He won one more with the Lakers.
Many stars treat milestones as moments for reflection. Giannis, however, treats them like checkpoints. He was already talking about climbing to the top of the all-time scoring ladder. Giannis Antetokounmpo is now 42nd on the all-time scoring list. He might not get to the top of the ladder, but if he continues to improve, he can win a lot more. The Greek Freak is already one of the five best players in the league.
Can he Actually Top the Scoring List?
Giannis joked that in five years, he might be at the top of the scoring list. But it is hard to see that coming to fruition. He needs as many points as he has scored to top LeBron James, who is still actively playing. To put things into perspective, Giannis’ highest scoring season was 2,222 points. LeBron has scored more than 2,200 points five times, and his highest was 2,478 in his third season. Kobe had four 2,300-plus point seasons, with his highest being 2,832. Michael Jordan had nine seasons with 2,400-plus points. His highest was 3,041. Those are numbers Giannis will be hard-pressed to match, even more so due to his health. He hasn’t played 75+ games since the 2017-18 season.
What Can Giannis Improve?
One of the biggest changes Antetokounmpo made to his scoring game came after the 2022-23 season. That was the last season he averaged more than two three-point attempts per game. Since then, he has cut down on shooting threes and attacking the rim even more. This season, he has taken that approach to a whole new level.
The Greek Freak is like a modern Shaquille O’Neal. He gets to the rim in a matter of seconds, and he is almost impossible to stop there.
However, there is still room for improvement. And that should be his free-throw shooting and efficiency. For a player who is getting 10+ free-throw attempts regularly, he has to make them at a higher rate. The difference between shooting 61%–65% and 70%–75% is two to three points. That can also make teams second-guess their strategy of fouling him to prevent a dunk or a layup.
He is also becoming more of a facilitator and playmaker. The Bucks have put the ball in his hands and have allowed him to control the flow of the game.
Featured Image: Michael McLoone-Imagn Images
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