Giannis Antetokounmpo Against the League’s All-Stars: How Good is the ‘Greek Freak’ in Guarding Them?

Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo has been facing a lot of heat recently, over his decision to not guard Jimmy Butler when he was blazing on the court. ‘The Greek Freak’ is being called out by everyone for his lack of leadership. Hey, cut him some slack. Here is a stat that proves Giannis’ dominance when it comes to defense. 

25-year-old Giannis has proved himself to be one of the league’s best players in recent years. He is well on course to pick up back-to-back MVP awards, a feat that is a rarity. Moreover, Giannis is the 2020 NBA Defensive Player of the Year, an award that recognizes his immense qualities in safeguarding his team’s basket. 

To prove how good he is in defense, ESPN Stats & Info posted a photo on Twitter, originally obtained from ‘Second Spectrum.’ This particular stat measures how players are successful in guarding the league’s  All-Stars. 

“Giannis Antetokounmpo allowed opposing All-Stars to shoot 31.9% in the halfcourt this season as the closest defender,” the page wrote. “That’s the best in the NBA among 228 players to defend 40+ attempts.”

This is certainly an impressive stat to possess. Giannis has been facing harsh criticism for his recent actions, but when he guards All-Stars, he manages to restrict their success. But the second player on the list deserves a special mention too. 

You might not know Alex Caruso as a great defender in the NBA. ‘Carushow’ is well known for his thundering dunks which hype the fans up. But, looking at this stat might tell you how good he’s been when it comes to defending All-Stars. 

Stephen A. questions the superstar status of Giannis Antetokounmpo

There’s been a lot of debates about Giannis’ recent actions and admissions. When a reporter inquired if he asked coach Bud about guarding Jimmy Butler in the final moments of the game, Giannis gave a startling reply. 

He mentioned that he’ll do only what the coach wants him to do, which surprised everyone. Giannis is the leader of the Bucks team, and when he did not guard Jimmy Butler in the dying minutes of the game, it proved to be costly for the Bucks. They lost Game 1. 

Stephen A. Smith wasn’t too impressed with how Giannis went about with his game. In ESPN’s First Take, he called out Giannis for his irresponsible leadership in Game 1 vs. Heat. Stephen A. mentioned that superstars in the league have the caliber to overrule the coach’s game plan if the situation demands a better one. 

“If you are an elite defender, you don’t put that responsibility on someone else. You handle it yourself. The Greek Freak did not do that last night. That’s not on Budenholzer. That’s on the Greek Freak,” Stephen A. Smith said.

Game 2 will be a platform for Giannis to deliver a statement with his performance. Undoubtedly, he will come out roaring right from the tip-off to deliver an astounding performance. But will he guard Jimmy Butler in Game 2? That question remains to be answered!