Bucks Notes: Giannis, Lillard, Porter, Trent

Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo has never been a three-point marksman and is attempting fewer outside shots than ever this season, having gone just 8-of-42 from beyond the arc. However, that decline in three-point tries has coincided with an uptick in shots from the mid-range, where Antetokounmpo is getting more and more comfortable.

Jim Owczarski of The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (subscription required) takes a closer look at the two-time MVP’s offensive evolution, digging into how favorably his mid-range numbers stack up against his peers. Of the 35 players who have averaged at least 2.5 mid-range attempts per game this season, Giannis ranks seventh with a 46.8% mark, putting him ahead of DeMar DeRozan, Kawhi Leonard, and Jalen Brunson, among several other stars.

“We are seeing a lot of growth in his game,” teammate Taurean Prince said. “It’s crazy to say but he’s getting better. Every day he’s adding on. Obviously the mid-range to his game and now guys gotta kind of step up and respect it. Whether they contest it or feel like he’s going to make it or not that’s up to them, but him adding to that to his game makes him more deadly.”

Despite attempting more mid-range shots, Antetokounmpo continues to score as efficiently as ever. He’s averaging 30.8 points per game with a .604 FG% this year after becoming the first player in NBA history to average at least 30 PPG with a field goal percentage of at least 60% in 2023/24.

Here’s more on the Bucks:

• Point guard Damian Lillard took a Clint Capela elbow to the left eye during the first quarter of Tuesday’s win over Atlanta and initially called for a substitution, but he was ultimately able to stay on the court and finish the game. He explained after the victory that his vision blurred after the play, but improved with time. “It got better, it just was hard to keep my eye just open,” Lillard said, according to Owczarski. “My right one I could see clear, this one was just kind of like, blurry. From the impact this side of my face was a little irritated. That was it.”
• Reserve guard Kevin Porter Jr., acquired from the Clippers at last month’s deadline, has fit in well in Milwaukee so far. On Tuesday against the Hawks, he scored 15 points in just 12 minutes for the game and was 5-on-5 from the floor in the fourth quarter. “It feels good, just being able to contribute to wins,” he said after the game, per Eric Nehm of The Athletic (Twitter link). “I’ve never been on a winning team or organization. I don’t know winning ways, so that’s what I’ve been learning here. These guys, the environment, the atmosphere, the team – it’s just been team, team, team and I’ve been soaking up the knowledge and wisdom from these guys and it’s been beautiful, honestly.”
• Gary Trent Jr., viewed as a steal last summer when he signed a minimum-salary contract with the Bucks, got off to a slow start in Milwaukee and dropped out of the starting lineup just seven games into the season. However, he has bounced back impressively since then and has played some of his best basketball since the trade deadline, Nehm writes for The Athletic. Trent, who will be an unrestricted free agent again in 2025, has made 44.8% of his three-point attempts since November 13 and is averaging 14.3 points per game since the February 6 deadline.