One of the most common statements made in the NBA is that no team is going anywhere unless they have a superstar. The Milwaukee Bucks hoped former No. 1 overall pick Andrew Bogut as well as first round draft selection Brandon Jennings could do it. Unfortunately, neither player evolved into a player that can carry a team. The good news is the Bucks may be in luck as their 2013 NBA Draft gamble might just pay off.
Several NBA experts were baffled that Milwaukee made Giannis Antetokounmpo their first round draft pick this year. The reason for that is because the 19-year-old is someone that was expected to take a long time to adjust to the professional level. Not to mention, the highest tier basketball he played was in the second division in Europe. The Bucks are clearly a team that needs some pieces to help them immediately and no one thought Antetokounmpo could handle such a role.
Fast forward a few months. The native of Greece isn’t exactly tearing it up on the court but he does show signs of promise every time he suits up. In fact, his teammates can vouch that he’s improving as each game passes.
“I’m amazed,” forward John Henson said, according to the team’s website. “He’s growing up before our eyes, really. He comes in every day and gets more and more comfortable with everybody. He’s playing well in the minutes he gets. That’s all you can ask for from a guy was 18 years old when the season started.”
After Larry Sanders squandered the chance to be the face of the franchise due to his off-court antics, Milwaukee might move in a new direction. Even though Antetokounmpo is still young, the hope is that he will become the face of the franchise in the next couple of years.
There were several NBA experts that compared his style of play to that of Magic Johnson and Kevin Durant. Take in a Bucks game and it’s easy to see why people think that way. Antetokounmpo has shown plenty of potential in just 20 games this season, which certainly has to excite the fan base. In my opinion, the face of the franchise is just the beginning of a promising career.
Michael Terrill is a Senior Writer for Rant Sports. Follow him on Twitter @MichaelTerrill, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
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