One of the most notable achievements of power forward Giannis Antetokounmpo is his role in the Bucks’ 2021 NBA championship. Giannis, chosen by the Bucks in the 2013 NBA draft’s first round as the 15th overall pick, has remarkably reached the stature of one of the greatest power forwards of all time.
Following the Bucks’ recent impressive victory over the Wizards, Giannis, whose on-court prowess was evident, offered candid advice to a Wizards’ rookie who performed well afterward.
Giannis Antetokounmpo’s advice to Bilal Coulibaly
After the Bucks clinched an impressive victory over the Wizards to maintain their winning momentum, Giannis was asked to comment on the Wizards’ young talent, who is a French international Bilal Coulibaly. Giannis began by throwing praises on Bilal Coulibaly who according to him, enjoyed good moments in the game.
Giannis added that the young talent appeared fearless, hinting that Coulibaly was in the right mindset—not aiming to be flashy but helping his teammates and being in the correct position to play the game the right way. Giannis also expressed his high expectations for Coulibaly as long as he maintains his current game attitude, which his coach may eventually decide to call plays for him.
Giannis advised Coulibaly to be hardworking and also encouraged him to consistently show up on the court, not just after winning a match. Giannis reiterated the importance of maintaining fitness for every game, emphasizing regular weightlifting.
Coulibaly’s outputs of 8.2 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists on 50% shooting from the field since his draft as the No. 7 pick from the Metropolitans, where he played alongside Victor Wembanyama, have been commendable.
Giannis Antetokounmpo’s performance vs Wizards
Giannis was exceptional against the Wizards; whose efforts inspired the Bucks’ 142-129 scoreline win. Giannis who amazingly averaged 42 points, 13 rebounds, and 8 assists, achieved his field goals close to the rim, which is unprecedented in the NBA in over 40 years.
Giannis’ 87.0% shooting from the field marked the highest percentage in a matchup for a player with at least 20 attempts since Mike Woodson of the Kansas City shot 22 out of 24 (91.7%) in 48 attempts against the Rockets on February 20, 1983.
After the game, head coach Adrian Griffin boldly stated that Giannis is highly unstoppable, hinting at how dominant he is on the court. Giannis, in response, expressed his desire for an easier matchup where he could score 42 points per game but concluded by acknowledging the difficulty of achieving such a feat.