Does Giannis Antetokounmpo or Jabari Parker Have a Brighter NBA Future?
There's something refreshing about a franchise successfully building through the draft. And the Milwaukee Bucks are on their way after stealing Giannis Antetokounmpo in 2013 and taking Jabari Parker this past June.
They've flashed that franchise-player potential—guys who could eventually lead the Bucks back to contention once they each enter their NBA primes.
Milwaukee is 11-12 with Parker, 19 years old, and Antetokounmpo, who just turned 20, as its second- and third-leading scorers, respectively.
| FG Percentage | Points | Rebounds | Assists | 3PT Percentage | PER | |
| Parker | .490 | 12.5 | 5.7 | 1.7 | .25 | 15.2 |
| Antetokounmpo | .481 | 12.3 | 5.9 | 2.0 | .20 | 16.1 |
Parker
Parker has been fairly consistent through the first 23 games of his career. And though we haven't seen too many offensive eruptions, he's looked the part of a star in training.
With a strong 6'8", 235-pound frame, Parker has the body to fit right in, along with some deceptive burst and athleticism. He's shown the ability to play through contact or blow right by it.
Parker is ultimately a handful at power forward against much slower-footed defenders, particularly away from the rim, where he can separate into jumpers:
Or face up and attack his man:
Parker has an extremely refined perimeter game for a guy his size, even if he hasn't quite developed the long ball yet (4-of-16 from downtown). With sound shooting mechanics out to 20 feet, you get the impression that it's only a matter of time before he adds the three-ball to his arsenal.
He's currently shooting 38 percent in the mid-range, where he gets good elevation and balance on his jump shots.
This is an area of the game where he reminds you a little of Paul Pierce and Carmelo Anthony. Step-backs, pull-ups, jab steps—Parker has flashed a go-to scorer's shot-creating and making ability.
Maybe one of the more encouraging yet underappreciated developments with regard to Parker's transition has been his knack for finishing at the rim.
He's 80-of-113 (70.8 percent) in the restricted area this season. Parker shot just 62.7 percent at the rim in college, per Hoop-Math, and there was some concern as to how he'd fare against length at the pro level.
On the downside, he's been a minus rebounder at power forward, as Grantland's Zach Lowe points out. And he's allowing his man to score at a whopping 70.8 percent clip within 10 feet of the hoop and 61.1 percent on two-pointers.
Quite frankly, Parker doesn't exactly project as a plus defender, though you don't necessarily have to be one to qualify as an All-Star talent in this league.
The Greek Freak
And then there's the Greek Freak, who's really unlike anything we've seen, which is exciting—it just makes his NBA growth tougher to predict.
Of the two, it's Antetokounmpo who undoubtedly has the higher long-term ceiling. A 6'11" wing with a guard's handle and shiftiness off the bounce, we could be talking about one of the wildest mismatches in the game if he's able to put it all together.
Antetokounmpo isn't quite as polished as Parker on the perimeter, but he's a bigger threat off the dribble. He's scoring 6.1 points per game off drives per 48 minutes to Parker's 4.3, and he's getting to the line at a much better rate (8.1 attempts per 100 possessions to Parker's 4.8, per sports-reference.com).
With his quickness, body control and ridiculous size and length, Antetokounmpo is a nightmare cover in space.
At this stage, Antetokounmpo's game revolves around getting to the basket, with 72.9 percent of his attempts coming from within 10 feet. Cuts, slashes, transition opportunities—he's at his best slicing through the defense and scoring in the paint, where 88 of his first 103 made field goals have come from.
He's got the potential to be as dangerous as anyone in the league in the open floor, where he picks up easy buckets off giant, agile strides and effortless lift around the rim.
His handle and elusiveness also help fuel his playmaking strengths. He's no point guard, but his ability to break down defenses with the dribble leads to drive-and-kicks and open shots for teammates.
But whether or not Antetokounmpo can take that All-Star step could come down to just how much his perimeter game improves over the next few years.
While he's flashed the moves and shot creativity, he's only shooting 27.3 percent in the mid-range on 12 makes in 23 games. Last year, he made just 10 mid-range shots all season at an even worse 18.2 percent clip.
Knowing his strengths as an attacker and lack of confidence as a shooter, we can expect more and more defenders to sag and force the jumper while eliminating the drive.
After hitting 34 threes at a respectable 34.7 percent for a rookie, Antetokounmpo's long-range touch hasn't been the same a quarter of the way through his sophomore campaign. He's hit just three of his first 15 three-point attempts so far on the year.
Defensively, though, he's got some world-class tools to work with, given his quick feet, monster size and massive wingspan. The versatility he offers is out of this world. Antetokounmpo still has plenty to learn, but as his body fills out and defensive IQ begins to build, so should his reputation as a two-way player.
Five-Year Projection
Any win the Bucks pick up this year should be celebrated, but we all know the plan is focused on the long term. And Milwaukee appears to be on the right track in terms of positioning itself for greater future success.
Given Parker's ability to play inside and Antetokounmpo's ball skills on the perimeter, there's no doubt in my mind that this duo can coexist and ultimately grow alongside one another. They complement each other well, while their versatility allows them to mix and match depending on whom they're up against.
But over the next few years, I see Parker as the guy who emerges as the team's No. 1 option. His perimeter game is further along, which makes him a bigger threat to score in the half court, while his athleticism should continue giving opposing 4s trouble.
Besides, not only does Parker have the skill set and polished offensive attack, but he's got the mindset, intelligence and maturity to lead.
On the other hand, I see Antetokounmpo as more of a complementary or opportunistic scorer than a go-to one capable of taking over stretches of a game. Until that jumper comes around, it's going to be tough for him to continue relying on athleticism and attacking night after night.
Then again, if Antetokounmpo starts finding ways to generate perimeter offense, you can forget about it—you won't find many defenders who'd be able to evenly match up.
But he's got a long way to go to get there, while Parker's path to All-Star status shouldn't be as laborious, given how little maintenance is needed to improve his already sharp skill set.
Either way, both guys look like the real deal. And depending on how Milwaukee plays its roster cards during the offseason, Parker and Antetokounmpo could be leading this team back to relevance a lot sooner than we anticipated.
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