Giannis Antetokounmpo wants his game to be “boring”

Giannis Antetokounmpo has been on an unbelievable roll over his final seven video games, averaging almost 40 factors per recreation. His newest scoring masterpiece got here on Tuesday when he dropped a career-high 55 factors towards the Washington Wizards in a 123-113 shellacking.

Environment friendly, although, doesn’t at all times translate to aesthetically pleasing. Not like the video games of Kyrie Irving, Stephen Curry, or Kevin Durant, Antetokounmpo’s recreation is one that appears a bit extra…effectively, boring. Antetokounmpo prefers it that means, nevertheless. Certainly, Antetokounmpo is aiming for a recreation that’s something however thrilling.

Constant scoring capacity

At his greatest, Antetokounmpo makes use of his exceptional mixture of size, athleticism, and talent to drive to the rim for layups or dunks. This scoring capacity permits Antetokounmpo to constantly get buckets with out having to resort to flashy strikes or deep pictures from past the arc. He is used this method to dominate the league over the previous couple of years, incomes two consecutive MVP awards and changing into probably the most dominant gamers within the league.

This model of “boring basketball” has change into Antetokounmpo’s trademark, permitting him to take care of an environment friendly ranking. In actual fact, he just lately said that he does not need to be in comparison with a number of the most enjoyable gamers within the league and as a substitute prefers to simply concentrate on environment friendly basketball.

“I need to get ready the place my recreation is boring,” Antetokounmpo stated. “I simply do what I do, and other people do not discuss it as a result of it turns into boring — I do it each single evening. That is what I need to do. I would like different individuals to really feel like my recreation is boring.”

Antetokounmpo, although, does not thoughts placing the ball within the basket utilizing the identical strategies day out and in.

“I do not get bored. The greats — the very best gamers — by no means get bored. They go on the market, and so they at all times give their greatest any given evening.”

Making historical past

Antetokounmpo’s efficiency on Tuesday positioned him in rarefied air, changing into the third participant in league historical past to have a minimum of 40 factors, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists in three straight video games. He joins the likes of Elgin Baylor, Wilt Chamberlain, and Russell Westbrook.

“He is been type of enjoying with this type of willpower, this type of simply keen us in video games,” Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer stated. “Tonight, we have been in a position to win it. He is simply been phenomenal.”