Bucks' Antetokounmpo in Hall of Fame company with quick start
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo opened the season with a 34-point, 13-rebound performance that sparked conversation among national media outlets that he’s a legitimate contender for the 2017-18 MVP award.
*Eye roll.*
We knew that long ago.
But then Antetokounmpo followed it up with 34 points against LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers, and he topped that with an absolute freakish final two minutes in the win over the Portland Trail Blazers, coming up with two crucial stops and huge buckets down the stretch.
Oh, and he racked up a career-high 44 points to go along with eight rebounds and four assists.
The three-game stretch earned him Eastern Conference Player of the Week honors for the third time in his career.
There haven’t been many starts to a National Basketball Association season better than what we’re seeing from Giannis.
Only Shaquille O’Neal, Michael Jordan and Jerry West have begun a season with at least 34 points in their first three games. And West did it a fourth time, a record Antetokounmpo could tie Monday night when the Milwaukee Bucks host the Charlotte Hornets.
| Player, Team | Year | Games |
| Jerry West, LAL | 1969-70 | 4 |
| Michael Jordan, Chi | 1986-87 | 3 |
| Shaquille O'Neal, Orl | 1993-94 | 3 |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo, Mil | 2017-18 | 3 (active) |
Antetokounmpo's presence in the paint and proficiency while driving to the rim are big reasons why the Bucks lead the NBA in field goal percentage (.496). But their overall shot selection has something to do with it, too.
Since the 2015-16 season, Milwaukee has the shortest average distance of field goals made in the NBA.
| Team | Avg. Distance |
| Milwaukee Bucks | 8’11” |
| Oklahoma City Thunder | 9’10” |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | 10’0” |
| Miami Heat | 10’3” |
| Denver Nuggets | 10’3” |
| NBA Average | 10’11” |
NOTABLE
-- The Bucks feature the NBA’s second-youngest starting lineup at an average age of 24 years, 40 days. Only the Los Angeles Lakers (23 years, 305 days) start younger players.
-- Tony Snell scored a career-high 26 points against the Hornets last season.
-- Kemba Walker has led the Hornets in scoring exactly 100 times since the beginning of the 2015-16 season.
Statistics courtesy STATS
