Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo makes history with 13th perfect triple-double in NBA history

MILWAUKEE — Discovering one thing Giannis Antetokounmpo hasn’t accomplished but in his profession could also be much more troublesome than attempting to protect him. The Toronto Raptors could not do the latter on Sunday evening within the Milwaukee Bucks‘ 118-111 win, and because of this Antetokounmpo did the previous.

Antetokounmpo completed with 22 factors, 13 rebounds and 10 assists for his fourth triple-double of the season. Much more spectacular, he did so on 9-of-9 from the sector to register simply the thirteenth triple-double on 100% taking pictures in NBA historical past. He’s the ninth participant to perform the feat and the primary since Nikola Jokic earlier this season. Antetokounmpo’s 9 area targets are tied for the fourth-most shot makes an attempt of the 13 such video games.

“It was like a pitcher with an ideal sport,” Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer mentioned. “On the finish of the day it’s fascinating to go 9-of-9 from the sector and have at triple-double. I am a bit of shocked it is occurred 13 occasions. It looks like a rarity. Not an enormous stat man or historian, however yeah, he is particular.”

Antetokounmpo obtained his evening began with a uncommon 3-pointer from the appropriate wing just some minutes into the sport, and from there he was off. As per traditional, he did most of his work across the rim, knifing via the protection for an array of dunks and layups. When he could not discover a path to the basket as a result of the Raptors despatched a number of defenders his means, he made the appropriate go repeatedly.

Throughout his postgame press convention, as he sat with the sport ball in his lap in honor of his record-setting 712th sport with the franchise, Antetokounmpo gave an interesting breakdown of his decision-making course of.

“Simply play to my instincts,” Antetokounmpo mentioned. “Typically I am gonna hold the ball a bit of bit longer as a result of I’ve a lane to drive the ball; I am simply ready for the man to decide to me or return to the man he is guarding. A variety of occasions I’d simply maintain the ball for a second and the man simply leaves. Earlier than, at any time when I noticed two guys I wanted to go the ball. Now, generally I am not in a rush. I have been double-teamed so many occasions I kinda decelerate, take my time. Typically with the double-team, they assume of their head that you simply’re gonna go the ball and you may take benefit and rip it baseline or rip it excessive to go downhill. Typically they’re so dedicated to it they need me to go the ball. I simply pull them out as a lot as I can, till I can discover the clear and finest go doable.

“However once more, it is instincts, it is all instincts. It isn’t one thing that I am doing consciously. I am not enthusiastic about it, it is all instincts. Typically I see the go there and simply gonna make it fast as a result of I consider the faster I make it he is gonna have the ability to set his ft and knock down the shot. And generally I am gonna wait a bit as a result of I do know he is simply bluffing, it is not an actual double-team.”

The historic facet of his efficiency was not as fascinating to the Greek Freak — not less than not within the second.

“I am pleased we have been in a position to get a win, get again on observe,” Antetokounmpo mentioned. “Once you’re within the second it strikes that quick, you do not decelerate and admire it. Possibly once I’m older and I am accomplished and gonna look again like, ‘Oh, that was cool I used to be in a position to do this, now I am not in a position to run or leap or chase my children.’ Proper now, while you’re into it, it strikes too quick.”