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Report predicts Giannis Antetokounmpo to remain a Top 5 star in the next five years

A report predicts Giannis' dominance will last well into the future.
Jonas Panerio|
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Ever since Michael Jordan stepped away from the NBA in 2003, the NBA has been looking for the next great basketball superstar. Many have come and gone, such as Grant Hill, Kobe Bryant, and the ageless LeBron James, who, at 39, remains as dominant as ever. Safe to say, the NBA is in good hands with numerous players ready to take the baton.

One of the most discussed and influential players of this decade is Giannis Antetokounmpo. Since his rookie season in 2013, Giannis has made a huge impact on the league, leading the Milwaukee Bucks to an NBA title in 2021 and an undeniable presence on both offense and defense. Recently, a report was released predicting that Giannis will remain a top-tier star five years from now.

By then, he’ll be 33 years old and entering his 15th season in the NBA. Many analysts are expecting him to maintain a similar level of production as he’s had throughout his career, though some have speculated that age may start to catch up with him around that time.

No changing who Giannis is

With 10 seasons already in the league, many are still waiting on Giannis to consistently make shots outside the paint. After all, this will be crucial as he approaches his mid-30s, as it’ll give him another way to score and get himself open against defenders who are increasingly aware of his strengths.

However, it appears that though Giannis remains a mediocre perimeter threat—he shot 37 percent from three last season—it’s but a small blemish on his otherwise stellar career. So, as he enters year 15 five years from now, don’t expect him to change his style of play too drastically.

“Antetokounmpo is who he is. And that's why it's almost irrelevant that he's coming off a campaign in which he hit just 27.5 percent of his 2.7 tries per game from beyond the rainbow,” Adam Fromal of Bleacher Report wrote.

Unstoppable

Giannis knows what he’s really good at, and while we have no doubt in our minds that he’ll continue to work on his shooting, he’s not going to be a three-point specialist anytime soon. He’ll remain the unstoppable force that he is, using his agility and strength to get past defenders with ease.

“Even as we evaluate a stretch in which he'll turn 33 and be forced to counteract declining physical abilities, he's so good at getting to the basket and manipulating defenses through sheer athleticism, length, and time-warping movement that significant declines are unlikely,” Fromal explained.

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Jonas Panerio
JONAS PANERIO