It’s no secret that Giannis Antetokounmpo is one of the top players in the NBA today. However, a recent statistic has revealed that his recent postseason runs have not been kind to the Milwaukee Bucks player or his reputation as a winner.
Antetokounmpo entered the NBA as the Bucks’ 15th overall pick in the 2013 draft, with Rudy Gobert, CJ McCollum, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, among others. And, while his first season was not very outstanding, his following years in the league have proven different.
Antetokounmpo won the NBA Most Improved Player award in 2016-17, averaging 22.9 points, 8.8 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 1.6 steals, and 1.9 blocks per game. Years later, the Bucks’ All-Star forward earned two MVP awards in 2019 and 2020, helping Milwaukee improve dramatically from where it was before he was chosen.
The Greek Freak would eventually reach the summit when the Bucks defeated Chris Paul and the Phoenix Suns in the 2021 NBA championship game. However, Milwaukee has struggled to advance in the playoffs since then, owing primarily to injuries or a lack of offense around Antetokounmpo.
Milwaukee Bucks All-Star Forward Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Heartbreaking Playoff Stat
Speaking of injuries, Antetokounmpo will miss the Bucks’ series against the Indiana Pacers due to a calf ailment. As things stand, a recent post from Alex Burns on X demonstrates how much he has played in Milwaukee’s last two playoff runs:
“Giannis has played 4% of the Bucks’ playoff minutes over the last two seasons.
Giannis has 91 total minutes played.
Burns tweeted, “Bucks: 1,993 total minutes played.”
Taking that information and putting it into context meant that Antetokounmpo has been a negative factor in the Bucks’ playoff run this year and the last. Add the fact that Milwaukee’s production on the court plummets when he’s inactive, and there’s reason to believe they won’t last long on the court against Indiana.
It’s unfortunate that Antetokounmpo has fallen out of favor in the playoffs since his championship in 2021. If he can stay healthy and be accompanied by a more skilled group, the Bucks have a chance to contend again. In any case, fans will have to see if the Greek Freak can return in time before his club is ousted by the Pacers.
