Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo is well aware of how the NBA is officiated nowadays, tending to favor the offensive player and giving him the benefit of the doubt.
“The way NBA is built, it wants you to flop. It kinda wants you be weak,” said Antetokounmpo, according to John Askounis of EuroHoops. “When you’re strong and going through contact, they don’t call the foul.”
“When you’re flopping, going into the contact and throwing the ball up, they are going to call the foul.”
Players are constantly looking for a way to exploit the rules, and that includes increasing the number of fouls shots. James Harden has turned that into an art of itself, leading the league in free-throw attempts per game, while also leading them in 3-point attempts per game — the Rockets' heavenly dream.
Yet Giannis Antetokounmpo, who has attempted more free throws after each season of his NBA career, ensured to say his intent isn't to fool the officials into making a call, but rather ensuring he's selling the foul when there is one.
“That’s not who I am. I am just going to going to power through the contact,” he added, “Sometimes they are going to grab me or push me. I got to show it more. I think I’ve done a better job showing it more.”
The Greek Freak is going to the foul line a career-high 10.4 times per game, but only knocking down 61.5% of his shots from the stripe — a career-low. His long strides, limber frame, and his physical nature allow him to visit the foul line often, but he must start cashing in at a better clip if he hopes to really take advantage of the way the league is being officiated today.
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