Bucks Zone

Why having Giannis Antetokounmpo roam around like a free safety benefits the Bucks

"I enjoy just disrupting people's offense and being in the passing lane."
Jonas Panerio|
© Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

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Milwaukee Bucks

Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo stands 6-foot-11 and has Inspector Gadget-like arms that stretch out to 7-foot-3. He's a force to be reckoned with on the basketball court, using his freakish athleticism and wingspan to dominate offensively and defensively.

But one of Antetokounmpo's subtle yet effective skills is his ability to play free safety on defense, disrupting opposing offenses with his quickness and length. This tactic has become a key part of the Bucks' defensive strategy, causing chaos for their opponents and helping them maintain their spot as one of the top teams in the NBA.

So why does having Antetokounmpo roam around like a free safety make such a difference for the Bucks?

Roam defensively

Though Giannis profiles as a big man, he boasts of the speed of a guard, which allows him to stay in proximity of the man he’s guarding while also making plays on the ball elsewhere. His agility allows him to quickly cover a lot of ground, making it difficult for opponents to find open spaces on the court. Antetokounmpo’s presence as a free safety forces teams to constantly be aware of his whereabouts, making it harder for them to execute their game plan.

“When we can get away with it, we want Giannis on someone on the other team that he can just roam,” Bucks coach Doc Rivers said.

“I guess, in football, like a free safety, he’d be an amazing free safety. I mean, he does a great job of roaming around, and he got to one steal from the backside, and he’s always at the rim.”

Enjoying the responsibility

Giannis explained that he’s familiar with this type of defensive responsibility, as he’s done this before for previous coach Mike Budenholzer. It worked wonders for the Bucks, especially in their run to the NBA title in 2021.

“For a lot of years before Doc, that was my job,” Giannis said.

“And I think, I kind of figured it out, and it also allows you not to be in foul trouble, so it allowed me to be in passing lanes and disrupt their offense as much as possible.”

This defensive strategy works well for Milwaukee as it allows Giannis to gain possession of the ball—via a defensive rebound or a steal—and instantly push the ball upcourt for transition opportunities. And as a defender, seeing Antetokounmpo with the ball in full stride is a nightmare for opposing teams.

“I enjoy just disrupting people’s offense and being in the passing lane, putting my hands on the ball and try to go get rebounds and starting the offense,” Giannis said.

“Because when I’m in the paint, I can also rebound the ball, and I start the offense.”

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Jonas Panerio
JONAS PANERIO