Giannis says he is at ’60 p.c’ of his potential

LOS ANGELES — After a dominant MVP season wherein he led the Milwaukee Bucks to an NBA-best 60 wins, Giannis Antetokounmpo mentioned he is at solely “60 p.c” of what he can totally turn into.

Antetokounmpo mentioned one of many greatest takeaways he took from the Bucks’ run to the Japanese Convention finals is that he has much more to work on regardless of averaging 27.7 factors, 12.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 1.5 blocks and 1.three steals final season.

“There’s loads of issues I can enhance on,” Antetokounmpo informed ESPN after filming for the PUBG MOBILE Crew Up Famous person Showdown occasion. “To begin with, [I have to] have a look at myself earlier than I have a look at anyone else. Attempt to self-improve as a lot as doable. There are loads of issues that I set to work on in my recreation.

“Lots of people say, ‘You’re the MVP, you’re top-of-the-line gamers within the league, you’re so dominant,'” he continued. “However I believe I can get higher. I believe I’m at 60 p.c of my potential, pretty much as good as I may be. I simply wish to be higher. If I’m in the identical state of affairs once more [in the conference finals], react higher, play the sport higher, play higher, execute higher.”

Antetokounmpo, 24, shot 57.eight% from the sphere however simply 25.6% from behind the arc within the common season. He felt just like the Bucks have been the favorites to win the Japanese Convention earlier than falling in six video games to the Toronto Raptors within the convention finals. The Bucks star mentioned he favored the strikes Milwaukee made in free company, comparable to re-signing Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez and including the likes of Robin Lopez and Wesley Matthews. He additionally is worked up about taking part in along with his brother, Thanasis, who agreed to a two-year minimal contract with the Bucks.

Antetokounmpo has publicly and repeatedly voiced his adoration for town of Milwaukee. When requested about probably having one of many longest tenures with the identical crew sometime, Antetokounmpo reiterated how vital successful and being on the identical web page with a company dedicated to successful a championship is to him.

ESPN reported in April that reaching the NBA Finals subsequent season might assist the Bucks to signal Antetokounmpo to a supermax contract in the summertime of 2020.

“I am going into Yr 7, it is insane,” Antetokounmpo mentioned of his Bucks tenure. “… My objective goes to remain the identical — it is get higher, take it day-to-day, step-by-step and the last word objective is to win a championship. So long as that we’re all on the identical web page, and we’re all targeted on that objective, why not play for the Bucks 20 years, why not play 25 years? Why not after taking part in, be a member of the teaching workers or a member of the entrance workplace. However we acquired to have the identical objective. We acquired to have the identical rules … we acquired to give attention to successful a championship.

“I wish to be part of a successful crew,” Antetokounmpo continued. “So long as now we have the identical mindset and identical strategy to the sport, there isn’t any purpose for me to maneuver and never be like Steph [Curry], not like be like Dirk [Nowitzki] or Kobe [Bryant] or Tim Duncan.”

Stars, although, are on the transfer greater than ever, as this summer time’s flurry of strikes and trades have confirmed. Like the remainder of the NBA, Antetokounmpo could not consider so most of the free-agency transactions which have altered the panorama of the NBA.

“It is insane, clearly, however it evens up the steadiness within the NBA,” Antetokounmpo mentioned of watching stars comparable to Kawhi Leonard, Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving, Paul George and Russell Westbrook all change groups. “You possibly can see loads of stars in every single place. Clippers, Lakers, Brooklyn, Sixers, Boston … it is good.”

Regardless of a number of superstars altering addresses and forming formidable duos in some instances, Antetokounmpo nonetheless believes the very best crew will win a championship, like Toronto did. Milwaukee largely stored its primary core and hopes continuity will assist the Bucks attain the Finals subsequent season.

Antetokounmpo mentioned he needs Leonard had really remained in Canada as a substitute of going to the Clippers with George.

“For me personally, I might love for Kawhi to remain within the East and keep in Toronto as a result of I might like to undergo the sequence [with them] once more,” Antetokounmpo mentioned. “However sadly, that is the NBA we’re speaking about. Strikes occur, folks change groups. However we acquired a chance proper now. We acquired to make the most of it, and hopefully, we will seize the chance and make large issues occur.”

“It is insane,” Antetokounmpo added of all of the adjustments this summer time across the NBA. “Like folks ask for a commerce and a commerce occurs. Gamers ask for a commerce, ‘I wish to get traded there,’ and gamers go there. It is insane. Loads of star gamers have loads of energy proper now. That is the league we stay in. I believe it is good to regulate your personal future and your personal profession.”