Giannis Antetokounmpo upped his game again with a new career high
Earlier this week, the staff of Ball Don’t Lie unanimously named Milwaukee Bucks wing Giannis Antetokounmpo the early favorite for the NBA’s Most Improved Player award. It’s a safe bet that every other writer who covers the league believes the same. The just-turned-22-year-old Antetokounmpo has been a revelation this season, leading his team in all major statistical categories and making the leap from highlight-ready curiosity to genuine star.
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Better yet, Antetokounmpo seems to be raising his ceiling as he goes. He reached a new height in Friday’s matchup with the Washington Wizards, scoring 39 points on 12-of-19 shooting (plus 15-of-17 from the line) to lead the Bucks to a comfortable 123-96 win.
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It was the seventh 30-point game of Antetokounmpo’s season and the eighth of his career, a mark of how much he’s raised his game already in 2016-17. While he still doesn’t have a dependable jumper, Antetokounmpo is learning how to use his length and agility to maximize nearly ever-present mismatches.
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Eric Freeman is a writer for Ball Don’t Lie on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at efreeman_ysports@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
