Giannis Sina Ugo Antetokounmpo[a] (né Adetokunbo;[b] December 6, 1994)[2] is a Greek-

Nigerian professional basketball player for the Milwaukee Bucks of the National Basketball
Association (NBA).[3][4] Antetokounmpo's country of origin, in addition to his size, speed,
strength, and ball-handling skills have earned him the nickname "Greek Freak". He is one of the
NBA's most dominant players, as well as one of the top overall players in the league.

Born and raised in Athens to Nigerian immigrants, Antetokounmpo began playing basketball for
the youth teams of Filathlitikos in Athens. In 2011, he began playing for the club's senior team
before entering the 2013 NBA draft, where he was selected 15th overall by the Bucks. In 2016–
17 he led the Bucks in all five major statistical categories and became the first player in NBA
history to finish a regular season in the top 20 in all five statistics of total points, rebounds,
assists, steals, and blocks.[5] He received the Most Improved Player award in 2017.
Antetokounmpo has received six All-Star selections, including being selected as an All-Star
captain in 2019 and 2020, as he led the Eastern Conference in voting in these two years.

One of basketball's most decorated players,[6] Antetokounmpo won consecutive NBA Most
Valuable Player Awards in 2019 and 2020, joining Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and LeBron James as
the only players in NBA history to win two MVPs before turning 26. Along with his MVP award,
he was also named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 2020, becoming only the third
player after Michael Jordan (1988) and Hakeem Olajuwon (1994) to win both awards in the
same season. In 2021, Antetokounmpo led the Bucks to their first NBA championship since
1971 and was named Finals MVP.[7] The same year, he was honored as one of the league's
greatest players of all-time by being named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.[8]

The biopic Rise, based on the life of Antetokounmpo and his family, was released in 2022.

Early life
Giannis Sina Ugo Adetokunbo[9] was born in Athens, Greece, on December 6, 1994, the son of
immigrants from Nigeria.[10][11][12] Three years earlier, his parents had moved from Lagos,
leaving their firstborn son, Francis, under the care of his grandparents.[13] Adetokunbo grew
up in the Athens neighborhood of Sepolia.[12] His parents, as immigrants, could not easily find
work, so Giannis and his older brother, Thanasis, helped by hawking watches, handbags and
sunglasses in the streets.[14] In 2007, Adetokunbo started playing basketball.[15]

Although Adetokunbo and three of his four brothers were born in Greece, they did not
automatically receive Greek citizenship as Greek nationality law follows jus sanguinis.[11] For
the first 18 years of his life, Adetokunbo could not travel outside the country and was
effectively stateless, having no papers from Greece or Nigeria.[15] He was eventually issued
Greek citizenship on May 9, 2013,[16] less than two months before the 2013 NBA Draft.[15]

After gaining Greek citizenship in 2013, his official surname became Αντετοκούνμπο, the Greek
transcription of Adetokunbo, which was then transliterated letter-for-letter and officially
spelled on his Greek passport as Antetokounmpo.[17][18] Giannis is the colloquial for the Gr.
Ioannis (John).[19] Because many could not pronounce his surname, he quickly became known
as the "Greek Freak".[20][21] Antetokounmpo also holds Nigerian citizenship,[9] having
received his Nigerian passport in 2015,[22] and as such possesses dual citizenship.[23][24]

Professional career
Filathlitikos (2011–2013)
In 2011, Antetokounmpo played with the senior men's team of Filathlitikos in the semi-pro
Greek B Basket League (Third Division) during the 2011–12 season.[25]

In December 2012, a few days after turning 18, Antetokounmpo signed a four-year deal with
Spanish club CAI Zaragoza,[26] reportedly including NBA buyouts after each season. A number
of other major European clubs had been interested in adding him, including Barcelona and Efes.
[11]

During the 2012–13 Greek A2 League season, Antetokounmpo shot 46.4% from the field (62.1%
on two-point field goals), 31.3% from three-point range, and 72.0% from the free throw line,
while averaging 22.5 minutes per game. Over 26 games, he averaged 9.5 points, 5.0 rebounds,
1.4 assists, and 1.0 blocks per game.[27] He was also selected by the coaches as a special
participant in the 2013 Greek League All-Star Game. Even though he was not actually selected
as an all-star, the coaches let him play in the game as a treat for the fans.[28]

Milwaukee Bucks (2013–present)

Early years in Milwaukee (2013–2016)

Antetokounmpo with the Bucks in November 2014

On April 28, 2013, Antetokounmpo officially made himself eligible for the 2013 NBA draft.[29]
He fulfilled his draft projections as a first-round pick by being selected 15th overall by the
Milwaukee Bucks. On July 30, 2013, he signed his rookie scale contract with the Bucks.[30][31]

Antetokounmpo made his NBA debut on October 13, 2013, at the age of 18 years, 311 days, as
one of the youngest NBA players ever. He averaged 6.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 0.8
steals, and 0.8 blocks in 77 appearances during his rookie season. He scored in double figures
23 times and grabbed at least 10 rebounds twice, with both efforts resulting in double-doubles.
He finished the season with 61 total blocks, which led all NBA rookies and was the seventh-
most by a Bucks rookie in franchise history. He was selected to participate in the Rising Stars
Challenge at NBA All-Star Weekend in New Orleans, where he tallied nine points, two rebounds
and two assists in 17 minutes. At the season's end, he was named to the 2013–14 NBA All-
Rookie second team.[32]

Antetokounmpo's second season with the Bucks saw both individual and team development.
On February 6, 2015, he recorded a then career-high 27 points and 15 rebounds in a loss to the
Houston Rockets.[33] Three days later, he was named the Eastern Conference Player of the
Week for games played February 2–8, earning Player of the Week honors for the first time in his
career.[34] He later competed in the 2015 NBA Slam Dunk Contest at NBA All-Star Weekend in
New York. On March 9, he scored a then career-high 29 points on 11-of-16 shooting in a loss to
the New Orleans Pelicans.[35]

In the 2015–16 season, Antetokounmpo developed further individually, upping his scoring
average to almost 17 points per game. On November 19, he scored a then career-high 33 points
in a loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers.[36] On December 12, he recorded a near triple-double with
11 points, 12 rebounds and 8 assists, helping the Bucks snap the Golden State Warriors' 24
game unbeaten start to the season with a 108–95 win.[37] On February 22, 2016,
Antetokounmpo recorded his first career triple-double with 27 points, 12 rebounds and 10
assists in a 108–101 win over the Los Angeles Lakers. At 21 years old, he became the youngest
Buck to record a triple-double.[38][39]

First All-Star years (2016–2018)

Antetokounmpo with the Bucks in December 2016

On September 19, 2016, Antetokounmpo agreed to a four-year, $100 million contract extension
with the Bucks.[40] Antetokounmpo's fourth year with the Bucks would be his breakout season,
as he further increased his statistical output and ascended to stardom. On December 23, he had
a career-high 39 points, eight rebounds and six assists in a 123–96 win over the Washington
Wizards.[41] A couple weeks later, Antetokounmpo recorded 27 points and 13 rebounds and
made his first game-winning buzzer beater, a 15-foot turnaround jumper which gave the Bucks
a 105–104 victory over the New York Knicks.[42] With 25 points against the Knicks on January 6,
Antetokounmpo had at least 20 points in his 14th consecutive game, matching the longest
streak by a Bucks player since Michael Redd in 2006.[43] On January 19, Antetokounmpo was
named a starter on the Eastern Conference All-Star team for the 2017 NBA All-Star Game.[44]
At 22 years and 74 days old, he became the youngest player in franchise history to start in an
All-Star Game. He also became the first Greek NBA All-Star.[45] In the game, he led the East
with 30 points in a 192–182 loss to the West.[46] On April 3, 2017, he was named Eastern
Conference Player of the Month for games played in March. The award was the first of
Antetokounmpo's career and the first for a Buck since Michael Redd won the award in January
2004.[47] Antetokounmpo helped the Bucks finish an Eastern Conference-best 14–4 in March,
the franchise's first calendar month with at least 14 victories since going 16–2 in February 1971.
Antetokounmpo led the Bucks in every one of the five major statistical categories (points,
rebounds, assists, steals and blocks) in the 2016–17 regular season, becoming only the fifth NBA
player to do so after Dave Cowens, Scottie Pippen, Kevin Garnett and LeBron James.[48] He also
became the first player in NBA history to finish in the top 20 in the league in each of the five
major categories in a regular season.[49] As a result of his efforts, Antetokounmpo was named
to the All-NBA Second Team, earning his first All-NBA honor.[50] He was also named the
recipient of the NBA Most Improved Player Award for the 2016–17 season, becoming the first
player in Bucks history to be named Most Improved Player.[51]

On April 15, 2017, Antetokounmpo scored a playoff career-high 28 points in a 97–83 win over
the third seed Toronto Raptors in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series.[52] In Game 5 of
the series on April 24, Antetokounmpo set a new playoff career-high with 30 points, but could
not lead the Bucks to a win as they lost 118–93 to go down 3–2 in the series.[53] The Bucks
went on to lose Game 6 three days later despite a 34-point effort from Antetokounmpo, ending
their season.[54]

Antetokounmpo dunking against the Washington Wizards in 2018

Antetokounmpo began the 2017–18 season on a tear, scoring 175 points over the first five
games of the season, including a then career-high 44 points in a 113–110 win over the Portland
Trail Blazers.[55] He averaged almost 27 points during the season, earning his second straight
All-Star nomination and All-NBA selection,[56] and broke Kareem Abdul Jabbar's franchise
record for triple doubles.

In Game 1 of the Bucks' first-round playoff series against the Boston Celtics, Antetokounmpo
recorded 35 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists in a 113–107 overtime loss.[57]
Antetokounmpo's game-winning tip-in in Game 4 equalised the series at two games a piece.
However, the Celtics would go on to eliminate the Bucks in seven games, in spite of
Antetokounmpo's 22 points and nine rebounds in Game 7.[58]

Back-to-back MVP and DPOY award (2018–2020)

Starting from the 2018–19 season, Antetokounmpo and the Bucks achieved a period of
sustained team success. Under new coach Mike Budenholzer, the Bucks began the season with
seven consecutive victories, and went 25–10 before the New Year.[59][60]

Antetokounmpo was critical to this early success, earning the Eastern Conference Player of the
Month awards for October, November and December, and later, February.[61][62][63] On
March 17, Antetokounmpo scored a career-high 52 points to go with 16 rebounds in a 130–125
loss to the 76ers.[64][65] He avenged this loss in an April 4 victory where he recorded 45 points
and 13 rebounds in a 128–122 win over the 76ers, helping the Bucks clinch the No. 1 seed in
the Eastern Conference.[66] Antetokounmpo eventually guided the Bucks to a 60–22 season
and the best record in the league. He helped the Bucks advance to the second round of the
playoffs for the first time since 2001 after scoring 41 points in a 127–104 win in Game 4 over
the Detroit Pistons for a four-game sweep.[67][68] The Bucks went on to reach the Eastern
Conference Finals, where they were defeated 4–2 by the eventual champions, the Toronto
Raptors, despite winning the first two games.[69] At the 2019 NBA Awards end-of-season night,
Antetokounmpo was named the league's Most Valuable Player.[70] He joined Kareem Abdul-
Jabbar as the second Bucks player to win MVP, and became the third youngest player to win
the MVP over the previous 40 seasons, behind Derrick Rose and LeBron James.[71]

Antetokounmpo began the 2019–20 season with a triple-double, recording 30 points, 13

rebounds and 11 assists in a 117–111 season-opening win over the Houston Rockets on
October 24, 2019.[72] On November 25, Antetokounmpo scored a season-high 50 points, along
with 14 rebounds, in a 122–118 win over the Utah Jazz.[73] After a December 14 victory over
the Cleveland Cavaliers, Antetokounmpo had led the Bucks to their 18th straight victory, 2 shy
of the franchise record.[74] The winning streak ended on December 16 with a close loss to the
Dallas Mavericks, in spite of Antetokounmpo recording an efficient 48 points and 14 rebounds.
[75] On December 19, Antetokounmpo made a career-high five three-pointers to lead
Milwaukee over the Western top seed, the Los Angeles Lakers, and helped the Bucks claim the
NBA's best record at 25–4. On January 23, 2020, Antetokounmpo was named an All-Star Game
captain, alongside James, for the second consecutive year.[76][77]

During the season postponement that lasted from early March to the end of July, due to the
COVID-19 pandemic, Antetokounmpo claimed to not have a basketball hoop to practice with.
[78] He later clarified that he did have access to a gym and basketball hoop, explaining his
earlier comments as a means to "get a little bit ahead of the competition."[79] Antetokounmpo
and the Bucks resumed their campaign against the Boston Celtics on July 31, where
Antetokounmpo led the Bucks to victory with 36 points and 15 rebounds.[80] Although the
Bucks finished the seeding games with a 3–5 record, they set the best record in the NBA for the
second consecutive year, finishing with a 56–17 record. On August 12, Antetokounmpo was
suspended for one game without pay for headbutting Moritz Wagner during a game against the
Washington Wizards.[81] Antetokounmpo finished the season with an all-time record for
single-season NBA Player Efficiency Rating (PER) with 31.9, as per Basketball Reference, having
surpassed the previous record held by Wilt Chamberlain of 31.82.[82][83] During the playoffs,
the Bucks advanced to the second round but lost 4–1 to the Miami Heat. In Game 2, the Heat's
Jimmy Butler was fouled while shooting by Antetokounmpo as time expired, leading to Butler's
game-winning walk-off free throws.[84] Antetokounmpo missed most of Game 4 after re-
injuring his right ankle which he twisted in Game 3. Milwaukee won the game, but
Antetokounmpo was also out for Game 5, when the Bucks were eliminated.[85]

On September 18, 2020, Antetokounmpo won his second consecutive Most Valuable Player
award. In doing so, he joined Hakeem Olajuwon and Michael Jordan as the only players to win
MVP and NBA Defensive Player of the Year awards in the same season.[86]

NBA championship and Finals MVP (2020–2021)

On December 15, 2020, Antetokounmpo re-signed with the Bucks, coming to terms on a 5-year,
$228 million extension, the largest in league history.[87] At the 2021 All-Star Game, he played
on the team captained by James and scored 35 points on a perfect 16-of-16 shooting from the
field to lead the team to a 170–150 win and became the first non-American to win the All-Star
MVP.[88] The Bucks finished the 2020–21 season with a 46–26 record, clinching the third seed
in the Eastern Conference. In the first round of the playoffs, they faced a rematch against the
Miami Heat. In a stark reversal of their upset loss the prior year, Antetokounmpo led the Bucks
to a four game sweep, closing out the series with his first playoff triple-double in Game 4.[89]
Antetokounmpo also led the Bucks to a seven game series win over the Brooklyn Nets in the
Eastern Conference Semifinals, where Antetokounmpo averaged 31.9 points, 12.9 rebounds,
and 3.6 assists per game. On June 29, 2021, Antetokounmpo suffered an injury to his left knee
during the third quarter of Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Atlanta Hawks
after slamming into Clint Capela and landing awkwardly, resulting in a gruesome
hyperextension.[90] Antetokounmpo would not return to the game, and the Bucks lost 110–88.
[91] MRI results would later show that he did not suffer any ligament tears.[92]
Antetokounmpo was ruled out for both Games 5 and 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals as a
result of the knee injury.[93][94] The series returned to Milwaukee at a 2–2 deadlock, yet the
Bucks ended up winning both Games 5 and 6 in his absence, advancing to the NBA Finals for the
first time in 47 years.[95]

Antetokounmpo returned in time for the finals against the resurgent Phoenix Suns.[96] In his
Finals debut, he recorded 20 points and 17 rebounds in a 118–108 loss.[97] He then registered
back-to-back games with at least 40 points and 10 rebounds in a Game 2 loss and a Game 3
victory,[98][99] joining Shaquille O'Neal in 2000 as the only players to reach those numbers in
consecutive Finals games.[99] He also joined Jordan, O'Neal and James as the only players to
put up at least 40 points in back-to-back Finals games in the previous 50 years.[100] The Bucks
continued their comeback after having lost the first two games of the series, prevailing in the
next four contests. In Game 6, Antetokounmpo recorded 50 points, 14 rebounds and 5 blocks
as the Bucks clinched their first championship in 50 years.[101][102] He posted series averages
of 35.2 points, 13.2 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.8 blocks, and was subsequently
named NBA Finals MVP by unanimous vote.[7] At 26 years, 226 days old, he is the youngest
since Kawhi Leonard in 2014 to be named Finals MVP,[103] as well as the first European since
Dirk Nowitzki in 2011 to do so.[104] Antetokounmpo also joined Michael Jordan and Hakeem
Olajuwon as the only players to have won the MVP, Finals MVP, and Defensive Player of the
Year awards during the span of their careers.[105]

Title defense and career high in scoring (2021–present)

On October 19, 2021, after receiving his first NBA championship ring in the annual pre-game
ceremony, Antetokounmpo recorded 32 points, 14 rebounds, and seven assists in a 127–104
season opening win over the Nets.[106] On January 13, 2022, Antetokounmpo led the Bucks to
a 118–99 win over the Golden State Warriors with 30 points, 12 rebounds, 11 assists, and 3
blocks, leading both teams in such stats,[107] in less than thirty minutes, and became the first
player to record multiple 30-point triple-doubles in 30 minutes;[108] he tied Jordan's career
mark of 28 triple-doubles, ranking 18th all-time.[109][110] On February 6, in a 137–113 win
over the Los Angeles Clippers, Antetokounmpo recorded 28 points, 10 rebounds, and five
assists, as the Bucks became the first team in NBA history to see their entire starting lineup
record at least 15 points, five rebounds, and two three-pointers in the same game.[111][112]
On February 8, 2022, in a 131–116 win against the Lakers, Antetokounmpo scored 44 points
with 14 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 blocks, and 0 turnovers on 17-of-20 shooting from the field;[113]
[114] it was his 20 straight game recording at least 25 points.[115] On February 15,
Antetokounmpo scored a season-high 50 points and grabbed 14 rebounds on 17-of-21 shooting
from the field in a 128–119 win against the Indiana Pacers; it marked only the 12th time in NBA
history that a player has scored 50 or more points on 80% shooting or better.[116] On March
29, Antetokounmpo scored 40 points, grabbed 14 rebounds, delivered six assists and had a
game-deciding block on Joel Embiid in the final seconds to lead the Bucks to a 118–116 victory
over the Philadelphia 76ers.[117] The following game, Antetokounmpo scored 44 points,
grabbed 14 rebounds and dished out 6 assists in a 120–119 overtime win over the Brooklyn
Nets. He passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to become the career leading scorer in Bucks franchise
history. Antetokounmpo's record-setting 3-pointer forced overtime, and he made two free
throws in the final seconds to seal the victory for the Bucks.[118][119] Antetokounmpo finished
the regular season with a career-high 29.9 points, 11.6 rebounds and 5.8 assists to become the
first player in NBA history to average 25 points or more, 10-plus rebounds and five assists or
more in four separate seasons.[120]

On April 20, during Game 2 of the first round of the playoffs, Antetokounmpo logged 33 points,
18 rebounds, 9 assists and 2 blocks in a 114–110 loss against the Chicago Bulls. He surpassed
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the most playoff points in Bucks franchise history.[121] On 1 May, in
Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals, Antetokounmpo recorded his second career
playoff triple-double with 24 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists in a 101–89 win over the
Boston Celtics. He became the first player in franchise history with multiple career playoff
triple-doubles[122][123] On May 13, Antetokounmpo posted 44 points, 20 rebounds and 6
assists in a 108–95 Game 6 loss. He joined Shaquille O’Neal and Wilt Chamberlain as the only
players in NBA playoff history to post a 40/20/5 game.[124][125] Bucks would go on to lose to
Celtics in Game 7 despite Antetokounmpo’s 25-point, 20-rebound and 9-assist outing. He
became the first player in NBA history to have 200 points, 100 rebounds and 50 assists in a
playoff series, averaging 33.9 points, 14.7 rebounds and 7.1 assists against Boston.
Antetokounmpo also finished the postseason by averaging 31.7 points, 14.2 rebounds and 6.8
assists across the 12 playoff games his Milwaukee Bucks played. He is therefore the first player
in NBA history to average a 31-14-6 line across an entire postseason.[126][127]

On May 21, Antetokounmpo was selected to his fourth consecutive NBA All-Defensive First
Team, which was the fifth career all-defensive team selection for him. It tied him with Hall of
Famer and former two-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award winner Sidney Moncrief
for most selections in franchise history.[128][129] On May 24, Antetokounmpo was selected to
his fourth consecutive All-NBA First Team and sixth consecutive overall. He became the first
player in club history to earn six All-NBA team honors, passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Sidney
Moncrief for the most in franchise history.[130][131]

National team career

Junior national team
Antetokounmpo represented Greece for the first time in July 2013 with the Greek Under-20
national team at the 2013 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship. He helped Greece to an 8–2
record and a fifth place overall finish, while averaging 8.0 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 2.2 assists
across the 10 games. He finished the tournament ranked second in defensive rebounds (7.0)
and seventh in blocked shots (1.4).[2]

Senior national team

In 2014, Antetokounmpo played for the senior men's Greek national basketball team for the
first time, helping Greece finish ninth overall in the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup with a 5–1
record. He averaged 6.3 points and 4.3 rebounds across the six games, while shooting 45.8%
from the field.[132]
Antetokounmpo again joined the Greek national team for EuroBasket 2015. Greece's roster
consisted of many experienced players, most of them previously crowned European champions
with their clubs, like Vassilis Spanoulis, Ioannis Bourousis and Nikos Zisis, and Greece was a
favorite for a medal, after showing great form in friendly games.[133] At EuroBasket 2015,
Greece was unbeaten in the group stages, and reached the quarter-finals, where a tight game
ended in favor of the eventual champions, Spain, eventually finishing fifth with a 7–1 record.
Antetokounmpo finished the tournament with three double-doubles, and a career-high 17
rebounds against Spain, leading his team in rebounds for the tournament. In eight games, he
averaged 9.8 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game.[134]

Antetokounmpo also played with Greece at the 2016 Turin FIBA World Olympic Qualifying
Tournament, where he averaged 15.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 0.7 steals, and 2.0
blocks per game in 3 games played.[135] Greece failed to qualify for the 2016 Summer
Olympics, after being eliminated by Croatia, by a score of 66–61.[136] He also played with
Greece during their preparation phase for the EuroBasket 2017. He scored 20 points in a prep
game against Montenegro.[137] However, he missed the actual EuroBasket 2017 tournament,
due to a knee injury.[138][139][140]

Antetokounmpo represented Greece at the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup, where he became
the first reigning NBA MVP to play in a World Cup.[141] He averaged 14.8 points, 8.8 rebounds,
2.4 assists, 2.4 steals, and 0.6 blocks per game, in 5 games played.[142] Greece finished 11th in
the tournament after they failed to advance past the second round, which was regarded as a
disappointing result in national and international sports media.[143][141]

From 2014 to 2019, Antetokounmpo played with the senior men's Greek national team in 49
games. He has scored a total of 573 points, for a scoring average of 11.7 points per game.[144]

He rejoined the team in August 2022. On August 25, 2022, Antetokounmpo scored a national
team career-high 40 points, along with 8 rebounds and 5 assists, in a 94–100 overtime loss to
Serbia in the 2023 World Cup qualifiers.[145]

Player profile

Antetokounmpo during the 2022 NBA All-Star Game

Standing 6 feet 11 inches (2.11 m) tall and weighing 242 pounds (110 kg), Antetokounmpo is
officially listed as a forward and sometimes described as a point forward,[146][147][148] but
has been deployed across all five positions. Highly athletic and versatile, Antetokounmpo is
often recognized as one of the best all-around players in the NBA, and many analysts have
declared him "positionless" and as embodying the future of the league.[149][150][151] As of
April 2022, Antetokounmpo's regular season career averages are 21.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, 4.6
assists, 1.2 steals and 1.3 blocks per game.[146]

Offense
By the 2016–17 season, Antetokounmpo had established himself as one of the league's most
devastating slashers and transition scorers.[151][152] His rare combination of size and speed
frequently enables him to cross half a court in a single dribble and blowing past multiple
defenders.[149][150][153] A 2017 analysis conducted by Stats SportVU at the behest of
FiveThirtyEight showed that Antetokounmpo was able to cover slightly more than 15 feet off a
single dribble when driving to the basket, 5 feet further than the average player in the league.
[148] In addition, Antetokounmpo has developed his own version of the Euro step, described by
Jordan Brenner of ESPN.com as "the final phase of the move's evolution", which allows him to
directly attack the rim from the three-point arc in a move that "renders the area between the
top of the key and the basket all but undefendable".[154]

However, Antetokounmpo has been criticised for his lack of a reliable jump shot, having shot
above 31% from three-point range just once in his career. Antetokounmpo's jumper has been
exploited by other teams. Most famously, the Toronto Raptors built a 'wall' of lengthy, adept
defenders to neutralise Antetokounmpo's paint dominance in their 2019 Conference Finals
victory.[155] As a result, Antetokounmpo increased his jump-shooting output, averaging a
career-high 4.4 three-point goals attempted and 1.4 made per game in 2019–20.[146]

Antetokounmpo has also received attention for his playmaking skills. Despite not being the
primary ball handler of the Bucks, he has largely orchestrated the team's offense. During the
2019–20 season, Antetokounmpo was responsible (through assisting and personally scoring) for
57.8% of the points the Bucks scored while he was on the floor, one of the highest rates in the
league.[156] He averaged nearly 6 assists per game during both the 2018–19 and 2019–20
seasons.[146]

Defense
Antetokounmpo is also recognized as an elite defensive player, capable of guarding all five
positions but more often deployed in a "free safety" role that allows him to roam the paint and
discourage attacks on the rim.[157] He is also a proficient shot-blocker and has developed a
reputation for blocking opponents in transition (the chase-down block).[158] With
Antetokounmpo in this role, the Bucks have flourished into one of the league's best defensive
teams, leading the NBA in defensive rating in 2018–19 and 2019–20.[159][160] For his
defensive efforts, Antetokounmpo won the 2020 NBA Defensive Player of the Year, and he has
become a perennial NBA All-Defensive honoree.