Has Giannis Antetokounmpo Already Surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the Greatest Bucks Player Ever?

The Milwaukee Bucks have been a part of the NBA since 1968, and they have won two NBA championships. Over the years, several NBA legends like Oscar Robertson, Ray Allen, and Sidney Moncrief have donned their colors. However, the legacy of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar reigns supreme, despite him being there for only six seasons with the Bucks. He played a starring role in their first NBA championship, as Kareem along with Oscar Robertson, defeated the Baltimore Bullets in the 1971 NBA finals in a dominant fashion. For many, Kareem is the greatest ever Bucks player.

However, the Bucks drafted a raw but prodigious Greek talent in the 2013 NBA Draft. This decision completely changed the fortunes of the Bucks franchise, as Giannis Antetokounmpo has blossomed into one of the best players of the modern NBA. Giannis has emerged as a formidable contender to Kareem’s legacy as the greatest player in Bucks’ history. The discourse only grew louder in 2021 when Giannis played a crucial role in securing the Bucks’ first NBA title in fifty years. In light of another stellar performance by Giannis, has he finally eclipsed Kareem’s legacy to become the greatest player in Bucks’ history?

Giannis continuously creates history with the Bucks

On 18th November, Giannis created a piece of history only three other players have achieved. In a fiercely competitive game against the Houston Rockets, Giannis recorded 26 points, 3 assists and 17 rebounds. With his 14th rebound, Giannis passed Kareem’s record of most regular season rebounds by a Bucks player. He currently has 7,165 regular-season rebounds. He now holds the Bucks franchise record for most points, assists, and rebounds, becoming only the fourth player to do so. The other three are LeBron James (Cavaliers), Kevin Garnett (Timberwolves), and Michael Jordan (Bulls).

Furthermore, Giannis also holds the franchise record for most blocks, triple-doubles, double-doubles, and playoff wins. He has also recorded the 2nd most wins in the Bucks franchise history, only behind 1980s star Sidney Moncrief. His continued brilliance for the Bucks has fuelled the greatest Buck debate even further, but in reality, there should be no debate. Giannis undoubtedly stands as the greatest player in Bucks’ history. If we compare statistics, the picture becomes even clearer.

Kareem’s impact on the Bucks is undeniable, as he led a newly introduced Bucks franchise to their first-ever title in 1971. However, Giannis has even matched Kareem in this department. In the era of super-teams, Giannis stuck with the Bucks and led them to their first NBA title in fifty years in 2021. Giannis has stayed loyal to the city of Milwaukee, despite having chances to move. He is currently in his 11th season as a Bucks player. Whereas Kareem only played for six seasons with the Bucks, before moving to the bright lights of Los Angeles. Giannis can put a punctuation mark on his Bucks’ legacy by winning the coveted Larry O’Brien trophy once again this season.

Can Giannis lead the Bucks to another NBA title?

The Milwaukee Bucks created headlines in the offseason when they came out of nowhere and swooped Damian Lillard from the Blazers. Lillard’s acquisition instantly made them the odds-on favorite to win the 2024 NBA title. Dame’s attributes perfectly complement Giannis’ game and in the early stages of the season, they have showcased precisely how effective their synergy can be.

This season, the Bucks have recorded an offensive rating of 121.4, which is the second-best in the league. Last season, they could only record an offensive rating of 115.4, 12th best in the NBA. The Bucks also have shown a marked improvement in their 3-point shooting. Currently, they are shooting 38.3% from beyond the arc, which is the 4th best mark in the league.

Lillard’s addition has made the Bucks a more dynamic offensive team. Just his mere presence has de-clogged the paint for Giannis to thrive. Statistically, Giannis is having his best-ever season. He has averaged 31.4 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists per game. However, Dame’s integration into the Bucks rotation has introduced certain challenges that could potentially create problems during the business end of the postseason.

Bucks’ defense is a source of concern

The Bucks have always been a defensively sound team. They have stalwarts like Giannis and Brook Lopez on their roster, which makes their defensive struggles even more perplexing. However, the Bucks have missed the perimeter defensive presence of Jrue Holiday. The Bucks traded him away in the Lillard trade, but no one could have imagined the adverse effect this move might have on the Bucks defensively.

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Currently, the Bucks have recorded a defensive rating of 116.3, the 10th worst in the league. This is an alarming drop-off from last season, where the Bucks recorded a defensive rating of 111.9 (4th best in the NBA). However, the good news is that the Bucks still have time to improve their defense. If they can’t sort out their defense in time, then winning the championship could become a whole lot tougher because “Attack wins you games, but defense wins you championships”.

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