(Translator's note: The author of this article is mark Medina, a journalist from NBA.com, and the content does not represent the views of the translator, and the time in this article is Eastern Time. The data in this article is as of February 15, Beijing time. ）
Two hours ago, the humble, athletic and skilled NBA star just used his performance to brighten the eyes of fans, boost the morale of his teammates, and make opponents feel helpless. He then spent a long time in the hallway of the stadium taking pictures with the children, inspiring them with his own games and performances.
But while Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks has made a huge impact in his nine-season NBA career with his super strength, solid basics, and personal versatility, he still doesn't think it's clear what heights he can reach in the end.
Can Alphabet Brother become the Tim Duncan of this era? After all, Duncan, as an acclaimed NBA star, is also a big player, and is also known for his versatility and humble demeanor in multiple positions.
"Can I be a Tim Duncan-esque figure?" I don't know. In an official interview with the NBA, Brother Alphabet said, "He is a target to look up to." ”
Duncan was indeed a highly desirable target.
Duncan has played for the Spurs for 19 seasons in his NBA career, winning five NBA championships, three Finals MVPs and two regular season MVPs, and was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. Alphabet brother has also played for the Bucks for nine seasons of his NBA career, winning one NBA championship, one Finals MVP and two regular season MVPs.
Duncan has been named an All-Star a total of 15 times, and Alphabet Brother will embark on his sixth All-Star tour in Cleveland this Sunday, matching Abdul-Abdul-Jabbar's record for the most All-Stars in team history. However, in order to catch up with duncan's number of All-Star selections, Alphabet Brother needs to be both healthy and in good shape in the second half of his career to qualify for the All-Star.
Duncan has been named to the NBA's All-Defensive Team eight times, and his rebounds (15,091, sixth all-time) and blocks (3,020, fifth all-time) are among the top of the all-time rankings. Alphabet has been named to the NBA's All-Team Team three times and the Defensive Team three times, while his rebounding count (5897, 190th all-time) and block count (832, 144th all-time) are still climbing on the all-time rankings.
Apparently, Alphabet Brother can also try to achieve a series of achievements to fill his Hall of Fame resume. But the scary thing is that after leading the Bucks to their first championship since 1971 with a finals MVP-level performance in 2021, the 27-year-old alphabet brother seems to have begun to harvest major honors and create new milestones. As Bucks assistant coach Darwin Hamm said, "We're in trouble. ”
"I think it's entirely possible." In an official interview with the NBA, Hamm said of the alphabet brother will become the Duncan of this era, "He has his own interests and hobbies, don't get me wrong. He's not the kind of guy who wherever he is, wherever nonsensical stupid things happen. He doesn't like dramatic things. His mind is on the family outside the field, and he's a quiet guy. He would joke with his teammates and do different things with them. Other than that, he never played any tricks. That's what he's focused on, other than the game. ”
I've always worked hard to win the game
As a strong contender for the championship, it's not surprising that the Bucks (35-22) were beaten by the Blazers (23-34) at home last Sunday in the absence of team leader Alphabet Brother. In terms of many statistics, Alphabet Brother is not inferior to other stars in the league and has always maintained the competitiveness of MVP.
Alphabet Brother is tied for second in the league in points per game (29.0 points), seventh in the league in rebounds per game and 12th in blocks per game (1.4). Alphabet brother and Nuggets center Nikola Jokic is the only player in the league this season to average at least 25 points, 10 rebounds and five assists per game. Of all the league's big forwards, Alphabet Brother has the second-highest shooting percentage (54.4%).
Alphabet Brother also seems to be further cementing his position among other great players in the NBA. Alphabet is still on track to become the first player in NBA history to average at least 25 points, 10 rebounds and five assists per game for four consecutive seasons. He has scored at least 25 points in 21 consecutive games, the third-highest number of consecutive games in a single season for the Bucks, behind Abdul-Abdul-Abdul-Jabbar's 22 games in 1969-70 and 25 in 1971-72. Alphabet brother has currently finished 29 triple-doubles in his career, ranking 16th in history, with former Celtics guard John Havlicek and Warriors forward Draymond Green (both 31).
"He's still a little different from Duncan." Hamm said, "Duncan's basic skills are more solid, but he is not as good as the alphabet brother in terms of athletic ability." Duncan has a very rich range of shooting and scoring tools. Their defence is full of energy. But Alphabet Brother defends small players better. But the similarity between the two of them lies more in their serious approach to the game. ”
Like the Spurs star who has played in the league for nearly 20 years, Alphabet Brother rarely talks about his major achievements. He values his attitude towards the game more.
'I just did my best to play the game well and win for the team. Brother Alphabet said, "No matter what the game is, no matter how fierce the game is, I will try my best to win the game."
No wonder these traits remind Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer of Duncan, who was assistant coach under Greg Popovich in 1996-2013. Budenholzer witnessed 4 of Duncan's 5 championships, and Alphabet Brother, like Duncan, has his own plans for the championship. Boucher also witnessed how the "Twin Towers" combination of Duncan and David Robinson dominated the interior. Later, he also witnessed Duncan team up with point guard (Tony Parker) and cunning scorer and defender (Manu Ginobili) to play a "booster".
So when Popovich was on the verge of becoming the most winning coach in NBA history, reporters asked if any other team could replicate the Spurs' enduring success.
"The Bucks are becoming such a team." Budenholzer pretended to be serious and said, "I've renewed my contract for 20 years, and Giannis is going to stay in the team for 20 years, or even longer." There is no longer any suspense in this question. ”
Budenholzer was just joking, but the information he wanted to reveal was not a joke. Before the start of the 2021-22 season, Alphabet Brother signed a five-year, $228 million contract extension with the Bucks, which expires in 2025-26. After the joke, Budenholzer began to seriously consider what Alphabet Brother's humility as a superstar had in common with Duncan's personality.
"That's what's integrated into his character and ideas. A high degree of humility has made Giannis and other players great. Budenholzer said. I love Giannis's humility. I think it's fair to compare him to duncan, Ginobili, Parker, there's nothing wrong with that. ”
The "maturity of mind" allows the Bucks to look ahead to the establishment of the dynasty
At that time, Popovich was quite strict with Duncan, and Duncan did it all. Now, for the coaching style of Coach Budenholzer, the alphabet brother is also quite cooperative. This is not surprising.
"He told me to be strict with him." Budenholzer said of Brother Alphabet, "He said that to me more than once. I think very few people tell a coach to be strict with themselves. So, I will do my best to make high demands of him. ”
In a recent team video, Budenholzer and Alphabet Brother seriously talked about grabbing rebounds more actively, driving teammates to ensure that the ball shifted more smoothly. As a result, Hamm called the video content "serious and tense." Alphabet brothers usually do a great job of these aspects, but Hamm points out that Budenholzer asks alphabet brothers to grasp the "complexity of the game". In the recent game that the Bucks lost to the Suns, Budenholzer criticized alphabet brother before he executed a free throw.
"The coach will put a lot of pressure on him." Hamm said, "But Brother Alphabet doesn't succumb to pressure every time." They will communicate repeatedly to reach consensus on both offensive and defensive ends. ”
Hamm estimates that 98 percent of alphabet brothers will accept feedback from coaches. Why would a recognized NBA star accept criticism so easily?
"I want to listen to the coach and I want to get better." Alphabet Brother said, "I want to make progress every day." I think I still have a long way to go. ”
It's hard to imagine that the alphabet brother still has room to rise. In last week's game leading the Bucks to the Lakers, he shot 17-of-20, including two three-pointers, and scored 44 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists, but after the game, he still criticized himself. Because even with superstars like James and Davis in the squad, the Lakers are still flawed (so they are not a top team). Three days later, the Bucks hit the top powerhouse, the Suns, and Alphabet Brother shot 5-of-14 and had just 18 points, seven rebounds and eight assists. That's probably why he's still engaged in self-criticism now.
That's hardly comparable to his performance in six games against the Suns in the Finals seven months ago, when he averaged 35.2 points, 13.2 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game and shot 61.1 percent from the field.
Overall, however, this season Alphabet Brother's average of points per game was almost at the level of his second MVP season (2019-20) (29.5 points per game). By the end of the season, his scoring average is expected to remain at his current level, surpassing his first MVP season (2018-19) (27.7 points per game). However, in both MVP seasons, Alphabet Brother shot higher (57.8% in 2018-19; 55.3% in 2019-20) and averaged more rebounds per game (12.5 rebounds in 2018-19; 13.6 rebounds in 2019-20).
This is probably why Brother Alphabet still emphasizes many times what needs to be improved in his game.
He carefully studied his shots in mid-range, three-point line, free throw line, and also studied his passing and defense. Alphabet brother believes that he needs to give more trust to his teammates and impact the basket more effectively. In addition, Alphabet brother also called on the whole team to be consistent in defense, rebounding, shooting selection, blocking, handling of the ball, and teamwork.
Alphabet brother seems to have performed well in most aspects of the game, but he has criticized all aspects of himself. He believes that "it is a very good habit to criticize and help us win at key moments and ultimately win the championship." ”
"I'm glad we won the championship last year, but we're not going to be satisfied with that." "I hope we can see ourselves as one of the teams that can play the finals in June," Brother Alphabet said. ”
For the alphabet brother to make such remarks, the Bucks team is not surprising.
"His greatness is that his mentality is more mature." Budenholzer said, "He always wants to make a little more progress. In many ways, he was. He pushed the whole team and inspired me to get better. So, he has always maintained this attitude. He wants to be a great player. ”
After all, in his two MVP seasons, the Bucks led by Alphabet Brother have been kept out of the Finals (2-4 by the Raptors in the 2019 Eastern Conference Finals; 1-4 by the Heat in the 2020 Eastern Conference Semifinals). During these two years of playoff journeys, Alphabet Brother suffered from a large number of double bags and various defensive strategies. Since then, Alphabet Brother has begun to become almost unstoppable.
"He's just being himself." Bucks forward Chris Middleton said, "That's what he's been doing for so many years. Last year's (championship) thing is over and we won't talk about it anymore. We're just focusing on this year now and just want to get better every day and find a way to win. So, it's no different [after winning the championship]. ”
This is because The Alphabet Brother already knows how to win the championship. This is also because Brother Alphabet did not become complacent after winning the championship.
Perhaps it is this attitude that can help Alphabet Brother accomplish what duncan did not achieve: defending the NBA championship. After the Spurs won the championship, Duncan experienced two first-round exits, one out of the Western Conference semifinals, and one out of the Western Conference Finals.
"He tasted the championship and now he's addicted to it." Hamm said of The Alphabet Brother, "It's a different kind of pressure. He has no pressure from the outside world to question whether he can lead the team to the championship. His pressure comes from within the team to keep that winning habit consistently and motivate his teammates to keep that habit of helping them win championships. ”
Will the Bucks be able to lift the championship trophy again? They are the top teams in the East, and because of the strong dominance of Alphabet Brothers, Middleton and Holliday can also provide him with strong support. The Bucks also acquired Serge Ibaka from the Clippers before the trade deadline in hopes of adding to the championship.
But the Bucks still suffered some twists and turns. Last summer, winger PJ Tucker opted to sign with the Heat after becoming a free agent. He is valuable to the team. Center Brook Lopez has been in recuperation all season due to back surgery. In addition, against teams with a 50% winning percentage, the Bucks have a record of only 12 wins and 15 losses, including 7 wins and 7 losses in January.
"It's too early to talk about it." Speaking about the Bucks' championship prospects this season, Alphabet Brother said, "Last year, no one would have believed we were going to win the championship. Now we don't know what will happen in the future. ”
Alphabet also mentioned several other powerhouses in the East, including the Heat, Bulls, Cavaliers, and Hornets, who could pose a threat to the Bucks. The same is true for the Nets and 76ers, especially after the two teams completed the Harden Simmons trade. But the Bucks have both talent and consistency in the lineup, as well as other intangible key factors that Alphabet believes are important to win another championship.
"As long as we play well, we can continue to enjoy what we do." Alphabet Brother said, "Only in this way can we continue to get this feeling." If you don't like what you're doing, you can't stick with it. ”
Enjoy the superstars of this journey
Obviously, Brother Alphabet enjoyed everything he did. Who doesn't love to dominate every game? But Brother Alphabet enjoyed the same fun off the field.
Hamm said that before the training camp began in September, Alphabet invited coaches and teammates to visit his hometown of Athens, Greece. Although all the invitees paid out of their own pockets, on one occasion alphabet brother invited them, including informal exercises and beach trips, before they went to Cyprus for a few days.
"The trip was fantastic." Hamm said, "It's not about basketball, it's purely a social trip." ”
After winning the tough Finals, the Bucks team certainly enjoyed the sightseeing trip, as well as enjoying the food and relaxing. Although their focus has shifted since then, Alphabet Brother still tries to show a relaxed side.
After each post-match interview, Brother Alphabet would share a cold joke that was both cute and would make people roll their eyes. Some examples?
For example, after a recent Game of the Bucks' victory over the Clippers, Brother Alphabet asked reporters: "Why did the football coach go to the bank?" ”。 The reporters were all confused, and then the alphabet brother replied: "Because he is going to get his quarterback (get his quarterback is pronounced the same as getting his quarter back, which means: get his change back.") For example, after the victory over the Lakers, Alphabet Asked reporters, "Why did The Oranges lose the speed race?" The reporters still couldn't answer, and then the alphabet brother said, "Because he ran out of juice." After embarrassingly flipping the whole room, Alphabet Brother rushed out of the interview room, as if he had just completed an epic performance.
"He's always been like this." Middleton said, "Think back to the days I was with him, and he always loved to tell old jokes. ”
This sentence caused a burst of laughter. "You're all laughing silly." Holliday shook his head and said to some reporters. "You shouldn't laugh." Middleton added. Still, it's hard for the rest of the Bucks and ordinary people to hear this without laughing because they know what that joy represents.
It's not about a man who can finally calm down after winning his first championship. This is the story of a man who remembers his roots. Raised by a pair of Nigerian parents, Alphabet Brother lived a life of poverty in Greece. Last week, Brother Alphabet attended an early screening of the Disney movie "Rise", an upcoming film about the family's journey. In addition to the All-Star Game, Alphabet will join his two brothers, Alex and Sanasis, for this Saturday's Skill Challenge.
"I'm enjoying the game just like I did last year. I'm in good shape right now. I am happy. Brother Alphabet said, "But I haven't changed." I shouldn't be in this league. I'm lucky enough to have the opportunity to stand on the pitch and inject something new into every day and help my teammates become greater in any way possible. ”
It sounds like what Duncan did throughout his career. However, there are some obvious differences.
"Giannis also has a humble, mischievous spirit and personality, and so do those Spur guys, but they're more in private." Speaking of the Spurs' stars, Budenholzer said, "It's really lucky to work with such great and humble people. ”
After the bucks' recent game win over the Lakers, fans saw the humble demeanor of the alphabet brother. He was walking with his family and then saw a large number of fans who asked for a group photo.
Alphabet Brother noticed them, and then humbly fulfilled their request. His presence made a little boy next to him cry, and Brother Alphabet came up to him and asked him why he was crying.
"Boy, you might be going to hold me off one day." Alphabet brother said. Hearing this, the little boy was very skeptical, but The alphabet brother insisted that he would play in the NBA for 20 years, and what he had was a chance. When he learned that the little boy was only 10 years old, Alphabet Predicted that he would enter the NBA as a 19-year-old genius boy.
"You'll cut me off one day." Brother Alphabet said, "You'll shoot three points in front of me one day." ”
Later, when talking about whether he would become the Duncan of this era, Brother Alphabet's answer did not sound very confident. But just as Brother Alphabet saw something special in this 10-year-old boy, bucks also saw something special in Brother Alphabet.
Hamm said: "He will be wholeheartedly prepared to meet the challenge. ”
By Mark Medina
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