Giannis Antetokounmpo is one of the league’s most unstoppable players. However, he thinks he still has work to do on his game, but he does not want to work with his current opponents. That is where Carmelo Anthony comes in, a retired player Antetokounmpo respects.
Over the past decade, Giannis Antetokounmpo has emerged as one of the NBA’s premier players. He already has a Hall of Fame-worthy resume, but he knows he can still improve. Unfortunately, he refuses to work alongside current opponents, so he has a limited group to work with.
Antetokounmpo did bring up Carmelo Anthony, a recently retired player who could help him improve his offensive skill set. During his career, Anthony was an amazing offensive player. He was not only a fantastic scorer, but he also enhanced his playmaking as he progressed.
Since Antetokounmpo has given him praise for his offensive skill set, Anthony looks to be more than ready to help the Greek Freak. That would be a fantastic improvement to Antetokounmpo’s skill set.
Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty ImagesAnthony is willing to work with Antetokounmpo
Since Antetokounmpo has made his desire to work with Anthony clear, the Hall of Fame forward is also interested. That is great news for Antetokounmpo because Anthony will have some free time to help him work on his game.
Anthony is only a few seasons removed from his NBA career, so he is still physically fit. He can help Antetokounmpo with some practice sessions where Anthony can show him the exact moves he wants to recreate.
In the past, many players, including Antetokounmpo, worked with Hakeem Olajuwon, one of the league’s most creative offensive players. Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard, in particular, benefited from working with the Houston Rockets icon.
If Antetokounmpo can get that kind of effect from working with Anthony, it would be scary for the rest of the league. Thankfully for the Bucks star, Anthony is willing to work with him, which is a huge boost for his future.
“Giannis is a student. You watch, he took something from this person, that person, and put it all together. I’mma have a mindset like Kobe (Bryant). I want the Mamba Mentality. I want the power and the strength to run fast, jump high, and dunk like LeBron,” Anthony said on 7PM in Brooklyn.
“He went to KG. He’s going to post-game Garnett. You’re going to the right people, so you’re picking the Avengers for your game. He just takes a little bit of everything… I can’t get this from him, like I want this from Melo. I can’t get that.”
“I gotta really work with him to get what I really want. That’s what he really needs. He needs the Melo.”
A refined Antetokounmpo is a threat to the rest of the league
When Antetokounmpo kept working on his game, people were impressed with how he learned to resolve some of the issues in his play style. He has become more decisive through the years rather than being reckless. That has helped him unleash havoc on the rest of the NBA, which he could do even more of with an improved skill set.
Giannis is currently 3rd in the NBA in midrange FGA and he’s shooting 47.8% (wow)
Looks smooth & confident. Early season, but the midrange has been a revelation. Allowing him to conserve some energy & hopefully helps him stay fresh into the playoffs. Love to see vets evolving. pic.twitter.com/PsZR49jpx1
— NBA University (@NBA_University) November 24, 2024
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Antetokounmpo is a student of the game, which is what Anthony has alluded to. He wants to work with Antetokounmpo because he knows the two-time regular season MVP and one-time Finals MVP has the right approach to the sport.
Any team in the league would struggle against Antetokounmpo with a more refined offensive game. He won’t just be an unstoppable player when he goes downhill; he will also have the skill set to beat opponents off the dribble.