Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo was recently named the NBA’s best player by ESPN. While this ranking was welcomed by Bucks fans, there were many other fans and analysts who vehemently disagreed. Many believe that Nikola Jokic, who won a NBA Championship with the Denver Nuggets last season, should be the top-ranked player in the NBA.
The debate over the greatness of Giannis and Jokic has waged on for several seasons, with the two players combining for four of the past five NBA MVP Awards. By all metrics, Giannis is the superior defender of the two while Jokic’s offensive prowess and ability to score, rebound, lead many to believe he is the better of the two.
Of course, whichever player one believes is better is a matter of opinion. Frankly, they are both great players and each as a valid argument for being ranked as the NBA’s best player. What is not excusable, however, is when fans and analysts spout things that just are not true in order to make their argument.
This is what happened on “First Things First,” a sports talk show on Fox News when NBA analyst Chris Broussard claimed that Giannis is not a “go-to” option.
Chris Broussard Argues Milwaukee Bucks Star Giannis Antetokounmpo Is Not a Go-To Player
Another recent poll, this one conducted by nba.com, asked NBA general mangers which player they would most want to start a franchise with. Giannis came in third in this poll, behind Jokic and San Antonio Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama.
This only spurred the debate between Giannis and Jokic, but what was interesting is that some NBA general managers would rather have Wembanyama to start a franchise with than Giannis, who is a proven NBA superstar.
While that may be their opinion, Fox Sports’ Chris Broussard took it a step further by saying some pretty disrespectful (and wrong) things about Giannis’ game:
“Giannis is the 2nd best player in the world but he’s not a go-to guy. … Wemby has so much more upside than Giannis.”
— @Chris_Broussard on why he’d take Jokić & Wemby ahead of Giannis to start a franchise around: pic.twitter.com/xN5QxEDBON
— First Things First (@FTFonFS1) October 11, 2023
“I think that Giannis is the second best player in the world, and he’s awesome. But, not a go-to guy. He’s not, and he never will be. Because he can’t shoot, he can’t make free throws, and he can’t make jump shots. And two, it’s not like he’s got a dominant post game.”
Broussard goes onto argue that when the Bucks need a bucket, they can’t go to their best player because he is not a good shooter.
Giannis Antetokounmpo Is the Milwaukee Bucks Best Go-To Option
While what Broussard says about Giannis’ limitations shooting are valid, the idea that those weaknesses in his game make him any less of a go-to option are absolutely absurd. Sure, if the Bucks need a three-pointer, they will look to Damian Lillard, Khris Middleton, or another shooter to get it.
However, if they need someone to lead the team, someone to go to to jumpstart the offense, they will go to Giannis. And they have.
How quickly has the national media forgotten (or chosen to forget) that Giannis dropped 50 points to close out the NBA Finals in 2021. Despite his shooting deficiencies, he averaged a career-high 31.1 points per game last season.
Listen: if one wants to take Jokic or Wemby over Giannis to start a franchise, that’s one’s opinion and that’s fine. But to say nonsense like this is just incorrect. If Giannis had not won a NBA Championship as the Bucks’ go-to scorer, the argument could be valid. As it is, Giannis has a Finals MVP Award and a ring.
Broussard’s argument just does not stack up to the evidence against it.
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