The 2013 NBA Draft class is shaping up to be one of the better classes in recent memory. With four players from that class having signed contract extensions worth upwards of $100 million, there is some serious talent in the NBA entering their fourth year.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is one of them. His progressions each season since he was drafted by the Bucks with the 15th overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft have been well documented, and after setting career highs in nearly every offensive category during the 2015-16 season, he became one of those players who received a lucrative four-year contract extension.
NBA.com recently asked their writers to guess if any of those players who signed contract extensions – C.J. McCollum, Steven Adams, Rudy Gobert and Antetokounmpo – can become perennial All-Stars.
Giannis was the run-away favorite answer, with nearly every writer picking the Greek Freak to be the mostly likely of the bunch to become a perennial All-Star.
Here’s what a few of them had to say about Giannis:
Steve Aschburner: “The Bucks’ marvelous young star is going to be the best overall player of this bunch.”
Fran Blinebury: “Giannis Antetokounmpo is the No. 1 candidate simply because of his physical gifts and raw skills. He’s barely scratched the surface of what is possible and has the potential to become an elite level All-Star.”
Josh Schuhmann: “He's obviously one of a kind physically. He's only 21 and his skills are developing every year.”
It’s certainly high praise for the Greek Freak, who was also named the best international player in the NBA a few weeks ago in the league’s annual survey of general managers.
To see what the other five NBA.com writers had to say about Giannis, and to read the full answers to the question from the writers above, check out the full story here.