Giannis' Development

[imithanos]

Another great thing with PG Giannis is that this team is now his. Actually his, Jabari's and Khris'. Do you remember at the beginning of the season that Bayless was ignoring Giannis when he was asking for the ball? Won't happen again. In our NT too.

3-4 months ago after Giannis hot start and the declining 1-2 months afterwards, I wrote, that the main difference between the Bucks and Wolves was, that in Minnesota everybody has acknowledged that KAT and Wiggins were the faces of the franchise. They would make plays for them, gave the green light and nobody would protest. Here Giannis and Jabari were advertised as the stars of the #ownthefuture, but especially Jabari was not so much involved in offense.
So finally we can witness this change!! And the most exciting part is not that we were forced to experiment with Giannis as PG, but because we tried it and he thrives in this position.
We don't have to wait until Giannis get paid to consider him (one of) the leaders(s).

[DutchManDanFan]

We should ask Giannis what his opinion is about Kidd... If Giannis wants him to stay, who are we to disagree?

I know people here dislike Kidds GM skills. But as long as he's here, he'll be involved with these decisions. Lets hope he'll learn from his mistakes. He is really smart, so I 'd be surprised if he doesn't. I think he´s going to stay for a long time and we should be glad (as long Giannis is).

[imithanos]

Idk if I already wrote it or I wanted to and didn't, but I laughed when he told in one of the recent interviews, that playing and practicing under Kidd is like having a cheat code. In older interviews I remembered too telling he still wonders how Kidd can do some things during practice. The reason I laughed was because I thought MCW wtf? Where is YOUR cheat code??

But yes, I think Giannis likes Kidd.

Another thing I remembered is when we fired Drew and Giannis told how sad and akward it was, cause he was maybe the first one to believe in him. But when he started training under Kidd, although his respect for Drew, he didn't hide how much better the new practice was.

[GeoBar]

So you are telling me, you're expecting from Giannis to say anything bad about anyone who is living in this world?.Good luck with this.

Btw Porzingis will come in Greece this summer as Giannis' and Thanasis' guest and hopefully will see them play some street basketball.
Also Thanasis and maybe Giannis will go to Latvia to Porzingis' basketball camp there.

[DutchManDanFan]

Am I the only one to think the Knicks picked Thanasis as a motivation for Giannis to join them later on in his career?

[Magic Giannison]

Am I the only one to think the Knicks picked Thanasis as a motivation for Giannis to join them later on in his career?

I wouldn't be surprised if it was Phil's Jackson's initial idea but now i dont think so anymore.

[imithanos]

Am I the only one to think the Knicks picked Thanasis as a motivation for Giannis to join them later on in his career?

The strong Greek community in NY would love to have him there and push for such a trade, but I don't see Thanasis in NY for the next 6 years and can't image and used the Knicks having such long term targets.

[3Diamantidis]

Am I the only one to think the Knicks picked Thanasis as a motivation for Giannis to join them later on in his career?

Nah i don't think so.
In terms of greek community's affect on a future decision, philly will always have more chances than NY i believe.
But giannis is a guy who values family above everything. And i know he is happy with the way milwaukee has treated his own.
That matters the most to him.

Kostas is the thing in the near future. His younger brother. 16 now, greater potential than giannis on that age.
If Kostas develops in the way we hope, i can see giannis pursuading the bucks draft him in 2-3 years.

[Prez]

Might offend the Greek posters but I still think he should skip NT play this summer and just focus on individual training in the states. This is probably the most important offseason for his development and I think he should focus extensively on his jumpshot, ball handling, post game, etc.

Would love it if he worked out with an older star like Middleton did with Wade. Also needs to train with Jabari extensively, pick up anything you can from Jabari's arsenal.

[Bucks4Milwaukee]

Might offend the Greek posters but I still think he should skip NT play this summer and just focus on individual training in the states. This is probably the most important offseason for his development and I think he should focus extensively on his jumpshot, ball handling, post game, etc.

Would love it if he worked out with an older star like Middleton did with Wade. Also needs to train with Jabari extensively, pick up anything you can from Jabari's arsenal.

Being American I completely agree. If he was playing for team USA, I'd be ok with him working out with guys like KD, James, Westbrook and the likes, but I'd really prefer him to shoot jumpers non stop all summer long.

[3Diamantidis]

Might offend the Greek posters but I still think he should skip NT play this summer and just focus on individual training in the states. This is probably the most important offseason for his development and I think he should focus extensively on his jumpshot, ball handling, post game, etc.

You do not offend anyone with brains.
Finally, Greek columnists seem to be on the same page.
It's for his own good, bucks own good, Greek NT future own good.

http://nba.sport24.gr/article/3946782/giannis-o-play-maker-tou-2020

...."Οσο για το καλοκαίρι, ποιος ξέρει τι θα συμβεί. Η Εθνική έχει ανάγκη τον Γιάννη για να προκριθεί στους Ολυμπιακούς Αγώνες μέσω του προολυμπιακού τουρνουά, αυτό είναι δεδομένο και επίσης δεν χρειάζεται ιδιαίτερη ανάλυση. Ο Αντετοκούνμπο όμως έχει ανάγκη από ξεκούραση και σκληρή δουλειά, ατομική προπόνηση, ενδυνάμωση και βελτίωση σε συγκεκριμένους τομείς. Είναι αρκετά ώριμος για να πάρει τη σωστή απόφαση. Αν έρθει, θα "σκληρύνει" μέσα από τον ανταγωνισμό και θα γίνει ηγέτης στα 21 του χρόνια. Αν κάνει ένα διάλειμμα, θα έχει όσο χρόνο χρειάζεται για να προετοιμάσει τον εαυτό του για μια σπουδαία χρονιά που θα τον σπρώξει ακόμη πιο κοντά στο group των superstars του ΝΒΑ."

Translation(Greeks plz correct me if wrong): ....."As for the summer, who knows what will take place. NT is in need of Giannis to advance to the Olympic Games via preolympic tournament, that is a fact and it doesn't need furthermore analysis. Antetokounmpo though is in need of a rest and hard work, individual training, strengthening and progress in specific areas. He is mature enough in order to make the right decision. If he comes he will get stronger via competition and he will be leader at the age of 21. If he takes a break, he will have the time he needs to prepare homself for a great season which will push him even closer to the group of NBA superstars"

[imithanos]

No offense taken about the NT. Everybody can understand how important the individual training is.

If it was a European Championship coming up next summer, my personal stakes to skip it would be at 60%. Now with the olympics I think it's around 30-40%. Maybe these last 2 weeks and the comments from Kobe and KD have made him evaluate the situation again.

[yannisk]

He should skip the NT this summer. If Greece had qualified for the Olympics I think he should go since this is a dream for an athlete and it happens every 4 years. But Greece has not qualified outright, they have to take part in pre-olympic tournament. That means that instead of the usual 1.5 month we are talking for a 3 month commitment (if we qualify). There will be no time left for individual training or rest and there is no guarantee that we will qualify anyway. Even for the Greek NT it is better to have a better player for the years to come

[Greek]

Actually not only the columnists agree to take a year off to work his game but most of the fans too. We are not getting offended, we understand the need, and if he decides to skip the NT we gonna support him

[Prez]

But what are the odds of Giannis actually skipping it though? I doubt the fans and columnists mean much if the NT coaches and players want him to play. Giannis seems like he might be loyal to a fault, like he owes them something even if they insist he doesn't.

[H2tObes]

Giannis isn't going to skip playing in the Olympics imo, don't see that happening at all

[imithanos]

But what are the odds of Giannis actually skipping it though? I doubt the fans and columnists mean much if the NT coaches and players want him to play. Giannis seems like he might be loyal to a fault, like he owes them something even if they insist he doesn't.

You don't want to open this discussion. If it was in the hand of our Natinal Basketball Federation Giannis is coming 100%. Many columnists and fans are criticizing the way it operates. Instead of focusing on developing the young prospects, it is always a hunt for success in all the national u-20 tournaments. Many Greek talents turn to ****, because they had to fight for results from early age and spent much training in defense instead of individual training.

I dont know if the Bucks can delay or make Giannis at least skip the pre-olympic tournament.

[Nightfall]

Kostas is the thing in the near future. His younger brother. 16 now, greater potential than giannis on that age.
If Kostas develops in the way we hope, i can see giannis pursuading the bucks draft him in 2-3 years.

Kostas will be 18 on May (born 16 May 1998).
Alexis is about 15, but it is to early to tell his potential.

[RRyder823]

But what are the odds of Giannis actually skipping it though? I doubt the fans and columnists mean much if the NT coaches and players want him to play. Giannis seems like he might be loyal to a fault, like he owes them something even if they insist he doesn't.

You don't want to open this discussion. If it was in the hand of our Natinal Basketball Federation Giannis is coming 100%. Many columnists and fans are criticizing the way it operates. Instead of focusing on developing the young prospects, it is always a hunt for success in all the national u-20 tournaments. Many Greek talents turn to ****, because they had to fight for results from early age and spent much training in defense instead of individual training.

I dont know if the Bucks can delay or make Giannis at least skip the pre-olympic tournament.

They can. Any team can stop their players from competing internationally. It just almost never happens.

Ehh. As I've always said it's his choice if he wants to play. If he wants to stay in the states and train or even just to rest his body that's great too. But it's his choice to make.

But common can we all agree the "this is the most important offseason of Giannis's career" should stop. People said the same damn thing last year and will say the same damn thing next year.

It's like when a Packers fan says "this is the make or break season for the Packers and Rodgers future". Been hearing that line for what? 6 years running now.

Every offseason is important but trying to play it up like some do is non sense

[breakchains]

So you are telling me, you're expecting from Giannis to say anything bad about anyone who is living in this world?.Good luck with this.

Btw Porzingis will come in Greece this summer as Giannis' and Thanasis' guest and hopefully will see them play some street basketball.
Also Thanasis and maybe Giannis will go to Latvia to Porzingis' basketball camp there.

!!!

If we somehow were to win the lottery, I would offer the #1 pick, Monroe, and MCW to Phil for Porzingis. Likely rejected but let me dream.