Can the 6'11" Greek Freak Really Play Point Guard in the NBA?

CLEVELAND — With Milwaukee Bucks point guard Brandon Knight currently nursing a strained right groin, head coach Jason Kidd had a golden opportunity to experiment with an unlikely replacement Tuesday night versus the Cleveland Cavaliers: 6'11" guard/forward Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Kidd announced the move Monday, saying he'd start the massive lineup of Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, Jabari Parker, Ersan Ilyasova and Zaza Pachulia.

While he possesses the height of most centers, Antetokounmpo is able to handle the ball due in large part to his gigantic hands, rumored to be 15 inches in length, according to Fox Sports Radio. He's a matchup nightmare waiting to happen at any position, but the learning curve at point guard is steep.

Still just 19 years old and entering his sophomore season, there's little reason to doubt the Greek Freak. But Tuesday's first test left something to be desired.

Comfort Level, Experience at Point Guard

Last season under Larry Drew, Antetokounmpo was used almost exclusively at small and power forward. The Bucks rarely used him as a facilitator.

Even with his athleticism, hands and length, Antetokounmpo averaged just 1.9 assists in his 24.6 minutes per game. So when exactly did the idea of him playing point guard come up?

"Summer league," Antetokounmpo told Bleacher Report before the Bucks tipped off their preseason game against the Cavaliers. "Coaches came to me around the second game. I'm not sure what I did, but they told me I deserved a shot to play point guard."

In four Las Vegas Summer League games, Antetokounmpo averaged 17.0 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists per outing. During the third game after coaches had approached him about running some point, Antetokounmpo registered five assists in a loss to the Utah Jazz.

Before that time, Antetokounmpo had never played the 1, at least not in America. "When I was younger, I played [point guard] growing up in Greece, but I've never played it here," Antetokounmpo said.

Now that he's had a few months to learn the tricks of the trade, Antetokounmpo said that his comfort level as a floor general was quickly growing. He didn't know, however, how long his new position would last.

"Day by day, I'm getting more comfortable there. I'm just trying to do my best, and whatever coach asks me to do," Antetokounmpo told Bleacher Report. "Whatever my coach says to do is what I'm going to do. (Smiling) If this is the last time I play the point guard position, then that's OK. Whatever coach wants me to do."

Antetokounmpo did note that given his 6'11" height, he had a certain advantage both on offense and defense.

Tony Dejak/Associated Press

"It gives you an advantage. Being so tall, and with all the guys at that position being small, I can see who's open and see all my teammates and where they are. I can also go in the post, too."

When asked about possibly struggling against smaller, quicker guards, Antetokounmpo said, "Guys in this league, are very strong, very good. It's hard to guard them. I'll try to use my length against them."

Heading into his first true test at a new position, Antetokounmpo seemed calm and relaxed. His smile hid any potential fears that may have lingered heading into the game.

A Work in Progress

Antetokounmpo did indeed start against the Cavs, and he looked very much like someone who hadn't played point guard at the NBA level before.

Cleveland was without Kyrie Irving and instead started second-year guard Matthew Dellavedova in his place. Dellevadova gave up seven inches but was noticeably quicker than Antetokounmpo from the moment the ball was tipped.

The Bucks used Antetokounmpo cautiously, allowing him to bring the ball up the floor before quickly passing off to a close teammate. Milwaukee would often follow an entry pass by running Antetokounmpo into the post, where he tried (unsuccessfully) to box out the 6'4" Dellavedova.

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Throughout the entire first half, Antetokounmpo seemed uncomfortable, as if thinking too much before every pass, shot or dribble. He finished the first half with a combined zero points, rebounds and assists in 12:54 minutes of play.

While Antetokounmpo did a nice job taking care of the ball (just one first-half turnover), this was more attributed to the types of easy passes he was throwing. Too often Antetokounmpo would stand waiting for a teammate to post up, then try squeezing the ball into whatever small window was available.

The offense, when run through Antetokounmpo, stalled mightily. After being replaced by Nate Wolters around the seven-minute mark, the Bucks went on a 20-19 run. The pace was quicker, and the offense flowed much more smoothly with Wolters running the show.

By the second half, Milwaukee had switched to Wolters as its starter at point guard, with Antetokounmpo moving back to his more comfortable position of small forward. The result? Antetokounmpo attacked the basket less than 20 seconds into the second half, earning a trip to the line and his first two points of the game.

Already, he seemed more at ease.

Antetokounmpo remained at shooting guard and small forward for the remainder of the game, registering four points, four rebounds and a blocked shot. In his first game as a starting point guard, he finished with zero assists and a single turnover.

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Dellavedova, despite being seven inches shorter, won the first matchup at point guard. He finished with just two points but recorded nine assists and five rebounds in the Cavaliers' 106-100 win.

When talking to Dellavedova after the game, he seemed surprised when told of the exact height he was sacrificing in the matchup.

"I just try to get around him and force him to catch it out when he tries to post me up. It's very unique having a guy that size playing the point. He's definitely improved from last year, and I'm sure he'll continue to improve."

Dellavedova also said he wasn't sure why Milwaukee pulled the plug on Antetokounmpo at point guard for the second half, adding, "I don't know, you'll have to ask the coach. It's the preseason, so everyone's trying different things."

If Kidd truly wants Antetokounmpo to play point guard this season, he'll still require quite a bit of work. On this night, Antetokounmpo looked uncomfortable and out of place in his new position. The offense clearly flowed better with the ball in Wolters' hands.

At 19, Antetokounmpo does possess size and skill, and he has time to develop into a quality floor general. The question is, how long are the Bucks willing to wait?

Greg Swartz has covered the NBA for Bleacher Report since 2010. Connect with him on Twitter for more basketball news and conversation.

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