NFL
By: Joe Cardoso
The NBA has been full of can’t miss prospects from Europe who have turned into huge busts or underachievers. For every Dirk Nowitzki or Kristaps Porzingis, you have Darko Milicic or Remon Van De Hare. So for some NBA fans myself included we need to see more than blurry YouTube videos when it comes to teams going with a European baller. One thing I will say is when a team gets it right the results are almost always fantastic. That leads me to a young man who’s game has grown right before our very eyes and is still not even halfway home. The player in question is Giannis “The Greek Freak” Antetokounmpo, at age 22 the revolution will be televised and he is the main attraction. He was drafted in 2013 15th overall and was and still is all legs and arms, but the skill level is rising. Many people laughed when Jason Kidd suggested playing him at point forward but early on in the season Giannis seems more than up to the challenge. What is impressive is how he keeps working to improve and expand his game. He is much more than a dunker adding a decent three point shot (Still a work in progress) and court vision to the war chest.
The Bucks have a roster full of exciting young talent but its’ no question who the leader of that group is. As the Lebron James and Carmelo Anthony generation gets older a new wave of talent is putting the league on notice. Through 22 games he sits at:
21.9 PPG
9 rebounds
6 assists
3 Blocks
52% From The Field
77% Free Throws
It’s been a long time since the Bucks have had a legit Superstar and not since 2004 have they had an All-Star that should change this year. Along with teammate Jabari Parker who is still finding his way in the NBA, the Bucks hashtag of #OwnTheFuture is spot on. At only 22 years old and the ink still wet from his $100 extension with the club the league is watching for what’s next. Playing in the east where the talent has improved but in my opinion not to the western conference level he has a shot at the playoffs this season. He plays a mix of point guard, both forward spots and sometimes depending on the matchup center. In the words of Missy Elliot Giannis get your freak on!
