Giannis Antetokounmpo made his preseason debut with the Miami Warmth, and head coach Erik Spoelstra was reminded of one other all-time NBA nice.
After taking part in simply 14 minutes, Antetokounmpo left the courtroom, with Spoelstra being extremely happy together with his efficiency and the vitality he confirmed.
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And after the sport, Spoelstra in contrast Giannis’ efficiency qualities to one of many best gamers within the historical past of the game.
Erik Spoelstra noticed shades of Magic Johnson in Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Warmth debut
Chatting with reporters after the Miami Warmth’s preseason win over the Toronto Raptors, head coach Erik Spoelstra mentioned his preliminary expertise with Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Whereas Spoelstra had all the time recognized how good of a participant Giannis was, his playmaking in apply and within the recreation got here as a shock, and reminded him and the entire group of Magic Johnson.
“He makes nice performs. We knew that about him. We confronted him within the playoffs thrice. However while you actually see it on daily basis in apply this week, you respect how sensible of a playmaker he may be.
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“With the scale and the imaginative and prescient and his potential to place it on the numbers to shooters is basically spectacular. Pat (Riley) was at apply all week, and the way in which he is performed with the ball in his fingers and delivering the ball, he reminds all of us of an excellent massive level guard that performed for Pat (Riley) again within the 80s.”
Whereas Spoelstra did not point out Johnson by title, him referencing a ‘nice massive level guard that performed for Pat Riley again within the 80s’ is a transparent reference to the five-time NBA champion.
Johnson discovered immense success beneath Riley, being the central determine of the Showtime Lakers that dominated the NBA within the Nineteen Eighties.
Antetokounmpo had a robust efficiency on all fronts, scoring 9 factors on 100% taking pictures and grabbing 4 rebounds.
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However it was his passing that garnered a whole lot of consideration, as Giannis dished out seven assists in simply 14 minutes, permitting a number of Warmth gamers to money in on some actually attractiveness.
Antetokounmpo has labored actually arduous on his passing over the previous few years, including a brand new component to his recreation to counter how groups have been ‘constructing a wall’ to protect him within the playoffs.
This forces opposing defenses to offer each participant on the courtroom the correct consideration, as Antetokounmpo can all the time overcome a slim block by dishing an outlet cross to one among his teammates.
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