Not long ago, Giannis Antetokounmpo was among the NBA’s top defenders. In the 2019–20 season, he became just the third player to win both MVP and Defensive Player of the Year in the same year, joining Michael Jordan and Hakeem Olajuwon. He was also a key part of several strong Milwaukee defenses, often roaming around the court while Brook Lopez protected the rim.
Antetokounmpo is still playing that roaming role after his offseason move to Miami, but at nearly 32, he hasn’t looked like the defender he once was. He ranks outside the top 100 in Dean Oliver’s Net-Points Defense metric, and Thursday’s 120–100 loss to Golden State included some rough moments.
One clip in particular drew attention: Antetokounmpo followed the ball around without seeming to get into position to disrupt the play. It was a strange sequence, and he looked a step behind the action.
He also appeared exhausted. That’s not hard to understand: he’s currently Miami’s only dependable offensive creator and doesn’t have the spacing he enjoyed during his best years in Milwaukee. His usage rate is 32.8 percent, a heavy load to carry while also being expected to anchor the defense.
Observers have seen signs of his defense slipping over the past couple of seasons. Miami’s best chance to succeed this year seemed to depend on becoming an elite defensive team, though it’s unclear whether the roster can get there. The Heat fell to 3–6 against the Warriors, after needing an overtime buzzer-beater to get past the struggling Clippers in their previous game.
There’s plenty of the season left, of course. Still, so far, the Antetokounmpo trade looks like a difficult deal for both Miami and Milwaukee.
