Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo is quickly establishing himself as one of the most dominant all-around players in the NBA.
Just one season after capturing the league MVP, Antetokounmpo has increased his scoring (31.0 points) and rebounding (12.9 boards) averages while trouncing the rest of the league in terms of Player Efficiency Rating (34.5). He is as unstoppable a downhill player as any in league history.
Philadelphia 76ers head coach Brett Brown called Antetokounmpo a “runaway train” prior to the Christmas Day matchup between the Sixers and Bucks, per Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix.
Brett Brown calls the Bucks “NBA royalty.” Calls Giannis “a runaway train.” Says the Sixers will learn something about themselves on both sides of the ball.
— Chris Mannix (@SIChrisMannix) December 25, 2019
Brown clearly acknowledges just how special the Bucks are as a team.
Milwaukee is 27-4 entering Wednesday's contest, ranking first in defensive rating and third in offensive rating, according to Basketball-Reference.
Giannis has certainly been the catalyst, improving his perimeter shooting and increasing his usage rate despite playing just over 31 minutes per game. However, his teammates continue to thrive in head coach Mike Budenholzer's system.
Khris Middleton is improving on a 2018-19 season in which he made his first All-Star team. Middleton is averaging 18.0 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.5 assists while shooting better than 40 percent from beyond the arc.
Meanwhile, Eric Bledsoe and George Hill have more than made up for the loss of Malcom Brogdon in the backcourt. Bledsoe is averaging 15.0 points, 5.7 assists and 4.9 rebounds, while Hill is averaging double figures in scoring off the bench and shooting 51.6 percent from deep on 3.1 attempts per game.
The Sixers have been one of the best defensive teams in basketball all season, but they will have their hands full as they square off against Giannis and the Bucks.
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