Sidney Moncrief was not surprised when Giannis Antetokounmpo became a superstar: "He’s exceeded my expectations"

The Milwaukee Bucks selected Giannis Antetokounmpo with the 15th overall pick in 2013, leading to speculation about his potential. Since he only played for a semi-pro team in Greece’s third basketball division, there were limited scouting reports about him.

Giannis had raw potential and physical traits, standing at 6’11” with solid athleticism. Draft experts said he had potential but thought he would take a long time to reach it to be a good player. Bucks legend Sidney Moncrief was a broadcast analyst during Giannis’ early NBA years and saw the potential for the Greek Freak to become a superstar.

“When this kid learns to play at a high level more consistently and play defense, he’s going to be an All-Star,” Moncrief said on the Upon Further Review podcast in 2020. “He’s exceeded my expectations because he has a strong drive to get better and keep accomplishing things on the basketball court.”

Moncrief was right about Giannis’ potential

Whenever people speak about Giannis’ early years in the NBA, the first thing that comes to mind is that he was more of an experimental player. Everyone knew he had athleticism and a natural understanding of how to run the fast break, but they did not get much of the superstar vibes.

Head coach Jason Kidd tried him out at point guard because he saw potential in Giannis being a solid playmaker, a pivot he wants credit for . That became part of his overall game, but he would find his stride in the 2016/17 season, his fourth NBA campaign. Antetokounmpo started to embrace his role as the go-to star, winning the Most Improved Player award.

The Greek Freak would only progress further, cementing himself as a top offensive player and defender. Giannis knew how to use his length and bulk to contain his opponents, becoming a solid point-of-attack defender. However, he thrived as a help-side defender who disrupted anyone who tried to shoot or drive in the paint.

Nowadays, Giannis is arguably the best player in the league, as he has a vast skill set. Of course, he is not the best shooter, between the jump shot or from the free-throw line. However, Antetokounmpo always makes an impact through his unstoppable scoring or his elite defense. It was the potential Sidney saw, but only a few people believed it in 2013.

Giannis can become the greatest Bucks player ever

Giannis has built a solid resume with two MVPs, a championship in 2021 alongside a Finals MVP, and a Defensive Player of the Year award. The Greek Freak is still in his physical prime, which bodes well for his future with the Bucks organization.

The 2021 title is a good argument for him to be the greatest-ever Bucks player, but some people see Kareem Abdul-Jabbar still holding that rank. It is a debate for now, but if Giannis could lead Milwaukee to another title, that would secure his spot as the greatest player in franchise history, and it will be hard to dispute it anytime soon.

Related: "His game, like skill-wise, has not gone anywhere" - Stephen Jackson believes Giannis' failure to improve his game is hurting the Bucks