Raw, but ready is the definition of Kostas Antetokounmpo. Despite being less freakish than his older brother should OKC select him in the NBA Draft?
Kostas Antetokounmpo as Sports Illustrated put it is less freakish than older brother Giannis Antetokounmpo. However, Kostas can still do some pretty freaky things on the hardwood.
Kostas could take two different routes once he arrives in the NBA. The rout of his older brother Giannis or the rout of his oldest brother Thanasis. Kostas could easily fall in the middle and not be as good as Giannis, but better than Thanasis Antetokounmpo. Regardless of the path, Kostas travels in the NBA he will likely have an intriguing career.
Player specifics:
- Height: 6′10.5″
- Height W/O Shoes: 6′9
- Weight: 194
- Wingspan: 7′2.25″
- Position: PF
- Age: 20.5
- College: Dayton, Freshman
- Hometown: Athens, Greece
Statline:
| Season | G | MP | FG | FGA | FG% | 2P | 2PA | 2P% | FTA | FT% | ORB | DRB | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | PF | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-18 | 29 | 15.1 | 2.0 | 3.5 | .574 | 1.9 | 3.0 | .651 | 2.2 | .516 | 0.8 | 2.0 | 2.9 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 1.1 | 2.3 | 5.2 |
| Career | 29 | 15.1 | 2.0 | 3.5 | .574 | 1.9 | 3.0 | .651 | 2.2 | .516 | 0.8 | 2.0 | 2.9 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 1.1 | 2.3 | 5.2 |
Provided by CBB at Sports Reference: View Original Table
Generated 6/18/2018.
NBA Draft Combine Breakdown:
- Max Vertical: 35.0 inches, 23rd
- Standing Vertical: 29.5 inches, 27th
- Lane Agility: 12.48 seconds, third worst
- Three-Quarter Sprint: 3.21 seconds, 34th
- NBA Shuttle Drill: 3.48 seconds, second worst
A few different things stood out from Kostas’ NBA Draft combine performance and his college statline. Foremost, Kostas appears to be a true power forward, rather than a stretch four. Which, is intriguing because in this era many power forwards will extend their game to the perimeter.
Furthermore, Kostas Antetokounmpo’s combine performance was eye-raising because he struggled on the conditioning portions. During the combine Kostas’ athletic ability was on full display, hence his impressive max and standing vertical leaps.
However, his performance on the lane agility and NBA shuttle drill peaked my interest. Kostas registered some of the lowest marks of the combine in those events. This is concerning because it could indicate Kostas is out of shape since it’s the offseason or worse has overall conditioning issues.
Skills: ball-handling
Big men who are unafraid to handle the ball fit the current NBA game. Kostas displays his ball handling skills in the clip below. Kostas stole the ball and drove all the way to the rack. The sequence is typical for a guard, not as much for a 6′10″ power forward.
One reason the OKC Thunder had the Orlando Magic select Domantas Sabonis was for his playmaking skills. Kostas could provide some of that same playmaking and ball-handling skills.
Shot blocking prowess
The OKC Thunder know first hand the value a generational shot blocker can bring. Serge Ibaka manned the paint for many years in Oklahoma City and was a perennial candidate to lead the league in blocks. Those days are long gone. This past season in the first round of the playoffs the Thunder went against the new perennial block leader in Rudy Gobert.
Gobert’s impact on the series was immeasurable and further demonstrated how OKC lacks their own shot blocker. Therefore, Kostas’ shot blocking would be a welcome sight in Oklahoma City. In the above clip, Kostas reads the play well follows the offensive player into the paint and blocks what would have been a layup.
The value that a shot blocker brings extends beyond actually blocking shots. If their shot-blocking prowess is truly elite their mere presence will alter shots. It’s unclear how well Kostas Antetokounmpo will block shots in the NBA, but he has the capability to excel in that area.
Kostas Antetokounmpo had an impressive showing at his Pro Day in LA, showing NBA teams he's more than just Giannis' little brother. Eye opening footage and a one on one interview with the Greek national team player. https://t.co/owmpMYdUQP
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) June 18, 2018
Weaknesses: screening must improve
The screen Kostas Antetokounmpo sets in the below video is unacceptable. He appears lost and somewhat afraid of the contact brought on by a screen.
The art of setting a good hard screen is dying in today’s NBA, however, screen setting is still a vital action in NBA offenses. Furthermore, given his size and athleticism, Kostas has no reason to set such a poor screen.
In order for Kostas to maximize his time in the pros improving his screen setting should be near the top of his list.
Defense needs improvement
Kostas is a very skilled shot blocker, however, his overall defensive game needs improvements. Kostas has a tendency to get lost on defense and does not always compete 100 percent on the defensive end. Both attributes factor into why Kostas is projected to go low in the NBA draft.
With the right situation and player development, Kostas could improve on the defensive end. Given the fact he naturally has a knack for blocking shots. Yet, how much Kostas improves is ultimately in his own hands.
Pro comparison: Nikola Jokic
Nikola Jokic went from being selected in the second-round to being the Denver Nuggets franchise player. It is unknown and a bit of a reach to say Antetokounmpo will have the same level of success Jokic has enjoyed in the league. Yet, their games are strikingly similar.
They are both big men with guard skills, sub-par defenders, and barring an unforeseen event, both drafted in the second round. Jokic would by far be the best case scenario for Kostas, he could also end up on a career path similar to his brother Thanasis.
Thanasis played in a mere two NBA games during the 2015-16 season and a total of 46 games in the G-League. Thanasis currently plays in the EuroLeague. With luck, hopefully Kostas will have a more successful pro career than his oldest brother.
Current mock NBA Draft ranking:
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ESPN/DraftExpress: 57
The Ringer: U/R
Draft Net: U/R
CBS Sports: 47
Sports Illustrated: 60
Bleacher Report: U/R
Basketball Insider: 57
Sporting News: U/R
U/R = Unranked
Fit with OKC Thunder:
Kostas Antetokounmpo would fit well on the OKC Thunder for a multitude of reasons. Foremost, Steven Adams needs a back-up, although Kostas is a power forward he has the athleticism to play in a small-ball lineup.
Secondly, the Thunder need a shot blocker, and Kostas could fill the void.
Last, but not the least Kostas fits the mold of a Thunder big in that he is athletic and excels at rolling to the rim. In conclusion, the Oklahoma City Thunder already passed on one Antetokounmpo brother in the 2013 NBA draft, hopefully, they learned from the past and do not make the same decision in 2018.