Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo has long been tagged as a ‘bagless’ player who needed a jump shot to elevate his game. He has since developed into one of the league’s most consistent mid-range scorers, and that ability looks permanent.
The two-time MVP and the Greeks have completed their EuroBasket tune-up games, with the tournament beginning Wednesday, August 27. In the contests Giannis suited up for, his jump shot looked polished and fluid, as he drained mid-range attempts from multiple spots with a variety of finishes. He added that element to his arsenal last season, and EuroBasket provides an ideal chance to perfect it ahead of the 2025-26 NBA campaign.
In the 2024-25 regular season, Giannis knocked down 44.2 percent of his mid-range attempts, hitting 1.9 of 4.2 per game. That efficiency gives the Bucks a strong foundation as they prepare for the upcoming season.
Just four players hit more mid-range shots than Antetokounmpo last season—DeMar DeRozan, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Devin Booker, and Kevin Durant all finished ahead of the Greek Freak.
Opponents have often packed the paint to limit Giannis and force him into jumpers. Now that he’s consistently hitting from mid-range, defenses face a dilemma—stay back and risk the shot, or step up and open lanes for him to attack.
Giannis Antetokounmpo’s new weapon
Greece’s victory over Latvia let Giannis showcase just how dependable his mid-range shot has become. Stepping on the court for the first time since the Bucks’ Game 5 loss to the Pacers in late April, he wasted no time proving his rhythm. He drilled pull-up jumpers off hesitation moves, hit one-legged fadeaways in the post, and sank a clean turnaround jumper over his right shoulder.
For Antetokounmpo, mastering this skill marks a major leap in his evolution as a half-court threat. His athleticism will still carry him for years, but adding a consistent mid-range jumper broadens his offensive options and strengthens the Bucks’ attack as he moves into his 30s and embraces life as a veteran.
Antetokounmpo heads into his 13th season still producing at an elite level. He averaged 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 6.5 assists per game last year, once again finishing as an MVP finalist. The Bucks, meanwhile, are working to catch up with the rest of the league and have begun building around him with younger, more athletic pieces.
