Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo took his game to new heights during his 2018-19 MVP campaign. Antetokounmpo set new career highs in points (27.7), rebounds (12.5) and assists (5.9) per game while also leading the Bucks to the best record in the Eastern Conference.
But Antetokounmpo has upped the ante even further this year.
The “Greek Freak” entered Thursday night's game against the Boston Celtics averaging 30.0 points, 12.7 rebounds and 5.5 assists while showing more comfort in his jumper. Giannis was shooting over 33 percent from beyond the arc on 5.1 attempts per game.
According to Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated, Antetokounmpo is also on pace to post the highest player efficiency rating (PER) in NBA history:
Among @Giannis_An34's many, eye-popping stats this season: He's on pace to have the highest player efficiency rating in NBA history. Just a monstrous statistical season for the MVP frontrunner.
— Chris Mannix (@SIChrisMannix) January 17, 2020
Antetokounmpo boasted a 33.4 PER ahead of Thursday's game, which is a few notches higher than the 31.82 recorded by Hall of Fame center Wilt Chamberlain during the 1962-63 season. Giannis' MVP season rans 13th on the single-season list, according to Basketball Reference.
Eclipsing Chamberlain's mark would bring a whole new level of meaning to the way in which Antetokounmpo continues to dominate the game.
Aside from leading the NBA in PER, Giannis also came into Thursday ranked first in defensive rating (96.4), defensive win shares (3.1) and total box plus-minus (12.6) while ranking second in value over replacement player (4.4) and total win shares (7.8).
Most importantly, Giannis has been the face of a Bucks squad currently stampeding over the rest of the NBA. Milwaukee were on pace for 70 wins midway through the season, and they have the best record in the league.
Antetokounmpo is quickly becoming the standard-bearer in basketball, and he is on the brink of history.
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