Giannis Antetokounmpo Blazing Through Finals Despite Attention

Two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo relishes the challenge of opponents setting up specifically to defend against him.

The Milwaukee Bucks superstar hasn’t yet been slowed down by the Phoenix Suns in the 2021 NBA Finals series.

Giannis Antetokounmpo has racked up 40 + points and 10 + rebounds in his past two games. As well as that, he is one of four players to have scored at least 100 points in his first three NBA Finals games.

He joins Hall of Fame company Shaquille O’Neal, Rick Barry and Allen Iverson in that respect. However, Giannis Antetokounmpo says it’s about more than just scoring when faced with ‘the wall’. 

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“The first time I saw the wall was probably two years ago,” Antetokounmpo said. 

“But I was always capable of passing before that. It’s something that I always liked to do. I had coaches and people throughout my career that helped me with finding the right guy, finding the right pass, making the right play. But once I started seeing the wall, two years ago, now it’s almost, it’s about trust. And it’s kind of hard, because you want to be effective, you want to get downhill, you want to do everything.”

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“And you take it personal, also. There’s a team that’s building the wall of three people and two guys behind and trying to stop you. Now you have to not take it personal and make the right play, find the right guy. I feel like I did that better since two years ago. … But I was always a capable passer before the wall was created. [It] is funny that there’s a defense out there called the Giannis Wall. It’s funny to me, you know?”

The Bucks have the chance to tie the series with Phoenix at 2 – 2 with a Game 4 win on Wednesday night.