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NBA Award Watch: Russell Westbrook is Oscar Robertson, the Chicago Bulls are good?

By John Buhler

Oct 28, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) reacts after defeating the Phoenix Suns 113-110 in overtime at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 28, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) reacts after defeating the Phoenix Suns 113-110 in overtime at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 1, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) reacts after a basket against the New Orleans Pelicans during the fourth quarter of a game at the Smoothie King Center. The Bucks defeated the Pelicans 117-113. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 1, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) reacts after a basket against the New Orleans Pelicans during the fourth quarter of a game at the Smoothie King Center. The Bucks defeated the Pelicans 117-113. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /

Most Improved: Giannis Antetokounmpo

Milwaukee Bucks point forward Giannis Antetokounmpo is not yet 22 years old, but he is entering his prime as a perennial All-Star in the NBA. His team is not elite, but he is. Antetokounmpo is playing like a superstar early on for the 2016-17 Bucks.

He is averaging 23.2 points per game, 9.5 rebounds per game, and 5.8 assists per game. Though he is still a poor three-point shooter at 25 percent, he is shooting the ball quite well inside the arc. Antetokounmpo’s field goal percentage so far is 51.4 percent, and he is hitting 82.4 percent of his shots at the line, with an effective field goal percentage of 53.4 percent.

What’s really keying his ascendance to superstardom is the increased responsibility. Bucks head coach Jason Kidd has recognized Antetokounmpo’s pure talent and has given him the keys to be Milwaukee’s floor general.

Most Improved usually goes to a player that was bad and becomes a high-end rotational player. With Antetokounmpo, that’s not the case. He’s going from a high-end prospect to an NBA superstar. That kind of climb is more exciting and should make the Bucks one of the better League Pass teams this season. The Greek Freak is getting better and that’s bad news for the rest of the Eastern Conference.

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