Giannis Antetokounmpo

Antetokounmpo is coming off his second consecutive MVP award, and he was also voted Defensive Player of the Year. He became just the fifth player in NBA history to have won both awards -- after Michael Jordan, Kevin Garnett, Hakeem Olajuwon and David Robinson. In just 30.4 minutes per game, Antetokounmpo averaged 29.5 points, 13.6 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 1.4 threes, 1.0 steals and 1.0 blocks while shooting 55.3 percent from the field. Despite the ridiculous counting stats, Antetokounmpo ranked just 13th in eight-category fantasy leagues on a per-game basis due to his abysmal free-throw shooting (63.3 percent). The woes from the charity stripe will ultimately cap his fantasy value -- except in points leagues -- unless he finds a way to improve. Banking on that improvement and drafting the MVP in the first half of the first round will be the path many fantasy managers, understandably, take. But, as counter-intuitive as it may sound, there are safer players this high on the board -- whose free-throw shooting doesn't come with such baggage.

Winner of the 2018-19 Most Valuable Player award, Antetokounmpo has firmly established himself among the truly elite talent in the NBA. In Mike Budenholzer's first year as head coach, the Bucks' offense and defense underwent massive transformation, and Antetokounmpo was able to thrive like never before. As one of the most well-rounded players in the league, Antetokounmpo became just the fifth player in the three-point era to average at least 25 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in a single season -- the others being Charles Barkley, Larry Bird, Russell Westbrook (twice) and DeMarcus Cousins. And of those players' seasons, Antetokounmpo had the highest true shooting percentage (64.4%). Plus, he's averaging a combined 3.1 blocks/steals over the past three seasons and has been named to an All-Defensive team twice. While he may never be a great shooter, Antetokounmpo's one-of-a-kind athleticism makes him arguably the league's most dominant inside scorer, with 643 of his 721 made field-goals coming at the rim. Heading into 2019-20, it's hard to imagine The Greek Freak getting much better, but he's just 24 years old. It's without question that he's one of the few players worthy of being selected with the No. 1 overall pick in fantasy drafts.

Antetokounmpo, who finished sixth in MVP voting last season, is also coming off his second consecutive All-NBA nod. The 23-year-old went top-five in most Fantasy drafts last season, rewarding owners with 26.9 points, 10.0 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.4 blocks per game. Another year of development, and a new coach, should only help Antetokounmpo’s Fantasy stock. Plus, he’s missed only 17 games in his NBA career -- a selling point for drafting him over other stars like Anthony Davis, who has struggled to stay healthy throughout his career. In addition to his impressive 52.9 percent shooting from the field, Antetokounmpo flashed an improved three-point shot toward the back-half of 2017-18. From January 1 on, Antetokounmpo took two threes per game, completing them at a 33.3 percent clip. If the Greek Freak can starting hitting at least one three per game on a consistent basis, that would round him out completely as a player, and as a Fantasy asset. He should not slip past the top-three in nearly any Fantasy drafts this season.

Antetokounmpo – winner of the Most Improved Player award – emerged as an elite Fantasy player during the 2016-17 campaign. He is the definition of a stat sheet stuffer, becoming the first player in NBA history to finish top 20 in every major statistical category, posting averages of 22.9 points (52.1 percent shooting), 8.8 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 1.9 blocks and 1.6 steals across 35.6 minutes per game. Much of the Bucks’ offense runs directly through The Greek Freak, who plays a pseudo-point guard role for the team. For reference, his 28.3 percent usage rate is similar to LeBron James’ 30.0 percent usage rate. And, while Antetokounmpo’s usage rate has increased every season, his turnover rate has decreased, demonstrating his increased comfort level as a ballhandler and distributor. He’s also one of the most position-eligible players in the NBA, with some leagues allowing him to slot point guard through power forward, which can allow for ideal lineup combinations. One of the only knocks on Antetokounmpo last season was his poor three-point shooting, as he made just 49 of his 180 attempts (27.2 percent). Regardless, even if Antetokounmpo makes no strides in his game, he’ll still be one of the best Fantasy options available in seemingly every format, and possibly worthy of a No.1 overall draft selection.

Entering his fourth season in the league, Antetokounmpo has seen his numbers increase each year in the eight traditional fantasy categories with the exception of three-pointers and free-throw percentage. That improvement likely would have happened regardless of how coach Jason Kidd used him, but it was Kidd’s decision to unleash the ‘Greek Freak’ as a point forward following the All-Star break that helped his production to really take off. The 21-year-old relied on his 6-foot-11, 222-pound frame and lengthy arms to pose matchup problems for opposing point guards, increasing his averages across the board to 18.2 points, 8.6 rebounds, 7.2 assists, 1.9 blocks and 1.4 steals in 36.5 minutes per game while shooting 50.9 percent from the field during 28 second-half contests. The most remarkable jump came in the assist category, which makes sense given his new role as a facilitator. Before the past season concluded, Kidd indicated that Antetokounmpo will enter the 2016-17 campaign in this same point-forward role, rendering him a triple-double threat on any given night. He has yet to show progress with his outside shooting, however, and a three-point shot is all that is keeping him from becoming one of the most complete players in the game. Moreover, the Bucks as a team were one of the worst performers from distance in the league last season, which could clog the paint and hinder one of Antetokounmpo’s greatest strengths in driving to the rim. The team addressed those outside shooting woes by adding Matthew Dellavedova and Mirza Teletovic this offseason, but if both fail to provide the impact desired, it’s possible we could see Antetokounmpo move back to his more natural role at small forward later in the season. No matter how it ultimately shakes out, it seems to be an inevitability that Antetokounmpo will take another step forward with his overall numbers, as this Bucks team is clearly constructed around him and his unique skill set.

At just 20 years old, Antetokounmpo finished his sophomore season with respectable development across the board, closing out the year with averages of 12.7 points, 2.6 assists, and 6.7 rebounds per game. Now that the Greek national has healthy running mates and a highly touted, youthful core surrounding him, 2015-16 will be an excellent gauge for how much he's progressed as an all-around player. Antetokounmpo made major strides in Year 2, but he still struggled with consistency, and he finished the year with a PER below the league average. He was still an effective two-way weapon, however, and with the expectation that his jumper will improve, he figures to be a more complete offensive player. In addition, team brass has indicated that he may see some time playing at center if a favorable matchup presents itself. Whether that comes to fruition remains to be seen - remember, last season was billed as the season of Point Giannis - but the idea has been floated around nonetheless. Antetokounmpo missed only one game last season and averaged 31 minutes, and since he's remained healthy over his first two seasons in the league, those numbers figure to remain relatively stable this season, making the rangy forward one of the higher upside picks heading into 2015-16.

The 15th pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, Antetokounmpo emerged as one of the lone bright spots for Milwaukee last season. His numbers – 6.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists – weren't eye-popping, but it was his athleticism and promise on both ends of the floor that demanded attention. He earned a spot in the Rising Stars Challenge at All-Star Weekend and was named to the All-Rookie Second Team. Heading into Year 2, Antetokounmpo will face something he never did as a rookie: expectations. While the Bucks are nowhere near contending, even in the East, the arrival of Jabari Parker instantly provides Milwaukee with a high-ceiling prospect to build around. The Bucks are expecting Antetokounmpo to develop into Parker's long-term running mate, which will require a major leap in production. The rangy Antetokounmpo could play up to four positions this season, with coach Jason Kidd vowing to use him as a point guard – not a point forward – in certain situations. If Parker slides into the starting power forward role, as expected, Antetokounmpo will likely begin the season entrenched as the starter at small forward. Depending upon how Kidd handles his rotations, Antetokounmpo could easily vacillate between both guard and forward positions on a nightly basis.

The 15th pick in the 2013 draft, Antetokounmpo and his role with the Bucks this season remain a mystery. Typically a player as raw as Antetokounmpo would be stashed overseas for at least one season, but the Bucks are adamant that he will be on the roster this season. His commitment to the Greek U-20 national team prevented him from playing in Las Vegas this summer, but he’ll join the Bucks for training camp and get his first taste of NBA action in the preseason. Future expectations are high for Antetokounmpo, but in all likelihood 2013-14 will be a developmental season as he adjusts to a vastly superior level of competition.