As he became an important player in the league, then the best NBA player, Giannis Antetokounmpo logically saw his number of shots per game increase. At one point, the pressure of having to go into high-stakes matches and highlights of matches was a concern. We remember that not so long ago, the Greek Freak was distraught and mocked by opposing fans for the time it took to trigger his gesture. His address was at half mast, particularly in the money time. A concern that Ben Simmonsto an even higher degree since he started to avoid any prospect of attacking the circle for fear of ending up on the line, knows well.
If there’s one player the Aussie needs to watch or even consult for his return to play to go smoothly in the coming weeks, it’s arguably Giannis Antetokounmpo. With a marked improvement in percentage this season (72.2% against 68.5% with almost two more shots per game), Giannis has opted for the reckless approach and is no longer afraid of being sent into the penalty area. Last night, in the Bucks’ easy win over Milwaukee, the 2021 NBA Champions star returned all 14 shots without shaking. A performance completely in line with what he has offered in this area since the start of 2022, where he transformed 217 of his 281 crossings over the line, or more than 77%.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is a fan of Ja Morant and he makes it known
When he hits the courts, it is very likely that Ben Simmons will be targeted or at least challenged by opponents eager to exploit this loophole if it still exists. Before this sad saga began with the Sixers until he left for Brooklyn, the All-Star did not seem to have been particularly hard at training on this free throw exercise. Each off-season, Giannis Antetokounmpo works on everything that seems to him to be still too fair or too weak in his panoply, to leave nothing to the opposition. He’s still not a good 3-point shooter, but he absolutely doesn’t shy away from open shots and that factor obviously changes how opposing defenses can try to stop him.
Simmons, who refused to take the slightest shot that was not a dunk or a lay-up, can also draw inspiration from this evolution in Giannis, who could perfectly have been content to be a monster of domination in the racket. This is also where the difference between a star and a superstar lies. Let’s see how Simmons will approach this new phase of his career.
