Jason Kidd: Gary Payton not mentoring Giannis Antetokounmpo

New Milwaukee Bucks head coach Jason Kidd plans to turn 6-foot-11 second-year player Giannis Antetokounmpo into a point guard and when a report surfaced last week that Gary Payton would be advising the Greek Freak, it made sense.

More from Milwaukee Bucks

But Kidd told CBSSports.com in a Q&A on Friday: Not so fast.

"Is it true you’re going to have Gary Payton mentoring Giannis?No. I’m not having anyone mentor anyone. For me, it’s looking at guys that I’ve played against or played with that can maybe help come in for a day or two to talk about what it takes to be successful. And so Gary at some point might come in and talk, but we’re not going to hire him."

Antetokounmpo has grown two inches since his rookie season and dabbled at the point in the Las Vegas Summer League, where he led the Bucks in scoring at 17 points per game.

He dazzled at times last season with his highlight reel dunks and blocks and did the same in limited time playing for Greece at the recently completed FIBA World Cup:

The prospect of the 19-year-old with the 7-foot-5 wingspan learning the position from two of its finest practitioners—Payton, a Hall of Famer, and Kidd, a surefire inductee in 2017—but that is apparently not going to happen, at least not the way it was originally presented.

It’s sort of a letdown, but at the same time, it’s still an intriguing concept that should create all sorts of matchup nightmares for Milwaukee opponents in the future.

More from FanSided.com

NBA Point Guards: Who’s the best?
Los Angeles Clippers need Blake Griffin to take next step
Kobe Bryant drew inspiration from Cheetahs for fadeaway
Kings’ 7’5 Sim Bhullar takes pohoto with 5’3 reporter
Dwyane Wade doesn’t plan to miss a Miami Heat game

Home/Milwaukee Bucks