Report: Gary Payton to mentor Giannis Antetokounmpo

[Milbuck]

Jason Kidd had a vision going to Milwaukee: to see Giannis Antetokounmpo running the point for the Bucks from the “1” position. The new coach of the “Bucks” is not only determined to implement this idea, but will have the help of one of the top point guards of the 90s in this effort: Gary Payton.

Gary Payton is in Athens today and at an event held during the afternoon in the northern suburbs, he revealed that he has agreed with the Bucks to assume the role of ‘Special Advisor’ for Giannis Antetokounmpo during next season. The “Glove” will start work during pre-season, which will begin at the end of the month, and said that he has met with the 19 year old forward in Las Vegas, as well as with Jason Kidd, with whom he has a long friendship from the years they have both played in the NBA.http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/09/18/report-gary-payton-to-assume-role-of-special-sdvisor-for-giannis-antetokounmpo/

This could be really, really helpful for Giannis...J-Kidd is already gonna be there to mentor him and help him hone his playmaking abilities, and now he'll have Payton there to take his competitive mindset and intensity to a new level.. He's already shown a mean streak on the court, an edge to his game that you need to be a great player. Now he's got one of the toughest, most tenacious PGs of all time to help him develop this mentality even more..

First we have Jason Kidd helping this kid's offensive game..

http://giant.gfycat.com/BlissfulFlashyAustraliansilkyterrier.gif

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HtHvEYIYPr0/U8CqmO351aI/AAAAAAAAI0E/NqsIvTFPamo/s1600/2.gif

http://cdn1.sbnation.com/assets/3778741/doubleoop.gif

And now Gary Payton helping someone who already has insane defensive potential..

http://i.minus.com/im2k7Oj72YwaE.gif

http://cdn1.sbnation.com/assets/3656411/GiannisOMGdunk.gif

And take his intensity to a whole new level..

http://i.imgur.com/5m2Cfco.jpg











http://i.imgur.com/uh5A6.gif

[TheMilkyBarKid]

Pretty smart of Kidd, if this works out they have a huge mismatch advantage, otherwise giannis will likely improve his passing and D. It's a no lose situation.

[Fowl]

I truly believe Giannis is going to be a superstar.

[no pun intended]

Man, if G becomes a superstar, Milbuck is gonna prove so many haters wrong.

[FashionIssues]

You mean he's in a Payton hood clinic?

[Bobby13]

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HtHvEYIYPr0/U8CqmO351aI/AAAAAAAAI0E/NqsIvTFPamo/s1600/2.gif

:biggums:

[BoutPractice]

An experiment if there ever was one.

It could backfire spectacularly... or turn him into one of the most uniquely feared players in the league.

[CeltsGarlic]

:biggums:

I was making the same face

I have no idea I havent seen this play before.. That dunk .. maaan

[StephHamann]

The Bucks will stink and if he gets good the Lakers will get him.

[R.I.P.]

Trying to have a 6

[Nikola_]

:applause:

[Real Men Wear Green]

[QUOTE=R.I.P.]Trying to have a 6

[BoutPractice]

Magic is probably not as tall as listed, but still... I don't see how the very concept of having a 6'10 PG is a terrible idea when two of the three best PGs in NBA history were 6'7 or more (Oscar would probably be listed as 6'7 today, at worst 6'6). Then there's Pippen, LeBron...

Not saying Giannis is anywhere near as good as those guys, but the very idea of a tall PG being misguided? I disagree.

Recently you also have MCW at nearly 6'7, and most of the great PGs in contemporary decades have been 6'3 at least.

[Milbuck]

An experiment if there ever was one.

It could backfire spectacularly... or turn him into one of the most uniquely feared players in the league.
Or both, which is what I'm hoping.

If Kidd goes through with this, where Giannis isn't just playing point-forward at the 3 but actually plays and guards the 1, we're going to lose a lot of games. Not because Giannis isn't capable or he doesn't have the vision..but he's just so young, so inexperienced at this level it's gonna take a few years..he's just 2 months older than Wiggins. And that's okay because we'll gladly take another top 5-7 pick.

And whether it works or not, it should refine his playmaking/ballhanding abilities which he's already showing to be great for his size.

Someone else said it..it's a win win situation.

[Milbuck]

I truly believe Giannis is going to be a superstar.

Man, if G becomes a superstar, Milbuck is gonna prove so many haters wrong.
That's the plan :applause:

[SHAQisGOAT]

Not true. We've never seen 6'10 before but Magic was 6'9. I don't know much about Antetokounmpo but if he's extremely quick and/or athletic he may be able to defend PGs. If he also has the ability to handle pressure, who knows? It could work.

Magic was an unreal passer though (at least top2 all-time), and he knew how to run an offense, kept that ball on a string too... And all of that already before he became a pro (ofc he developed it more), it was no "experiment" or something that happened overnight.

[Milbuck]

Magic was an unreal passer though (at least top2 all-time), and he knew how to run an offense, kept that ball on a string too... And all of that already before he became a pro (ofc he developed it more), it was no "experiment" or something that happened overnight.
To be fair, no one is seriously comparing him to Magic. The only comparison is that Magic is huge for his position, which Giannis could/would be if he stuck around at PG.

I will say, part of the reason it's an 'experiment' is because of how much of a baby Giannis still is in basketball. He didn't start playing basketball seriously until he was 12 when his brother forced him to play it instead of soccer.. And even then he wasn't playing against the best competition relative to his age year after year, like guys like Jabari, Wiggins, Randle, and other rookies were able to from an early age. One of the reasons he dropped in the draft.

He's never going to be Magic..but the necessity for him to refine these skills shouldn't be a knock on him, it's a product of his background.

[Mr Exlax]

When is his contract up and do you feel like he'll sign with the Bucks long term? Are other teams out there checking him out yet?

[Milbuck]

When is his contract up and do you feel like he'll sign with the Bucks long term? Are other teams out there checking him out yet?

GiannisAntetokounmpo ✔ @G_ante34

I'll never leave the team and the city of Milwaukee till we build the team to a championship level team..
8:49 PM - 16 Jul 2014

GiannisAntetokounmpo ✔ @G_ante34

It needs a lot of work but me and the guys we are ready to take the challenge.. #HateLoosing #BecomingAleader @Bucks
8:50 PM - 16 Jul 2014
I have no doubt other teams are interested.. but like in that tweet, he's stated multiple times he's here for the long-term and that he wants to turn this into a winning culture. Same for Jabari.

This is the first time in a long time we have 2 young players with their potential..winning changes everything.

[Lebron23]

Good for him. I think he's gonna be a multiple nba all star, but not an NBA superstar.

[Thorpesaurous]

PPayton wasn't 6-10, but he wasn't small, and he was one of the best defenders ever based on his length and understanding how to use that to create angles. I've never been sure if it's something that can really be taught, but it's certainly worth a shot.

The other thing that made GP great was his post game on the other end. He was a nightmare for anyone quick enough to guard him on the perimeter because that player almost inevitably wound up not being able to handle his wonky game that use that length on the block. A lot of which was predicated on inside pivots, quickness, and keeping the ball high for that weird fadeaway. All that is stuff Giannis could use.

I don't think he has the instincts of a true PG. But if you run a ball handling SG next to him, something like Mayo used to be, and pick up the ability to relieve ball handling pressure by putting Parker at PF where very few people will come out and guard him, then it could work. But more than anything else, I think the advantage is mostly at the defensive end. This could be a long, crazy athletic team that could switch everywhere, trap, and just generally be a pain in the ass.

Sanders, Hensen, Parker, if you can put Ilyasova out there as a nominal SG, and Giannis, is a crazy weird long moving all over type of lineup. And Ilyasova and Parker actually give you a little spacing. I'm not saying I'd run it all the time, but I'd certainly toy with it.

[JohnFreeman]

Bucks will be fun to watch

[DJ Leon Smith]

To be fair, no one is seriously comparing him to Magic. The only comparison is that Magic is huge for his position, which Giannis could/would be if he stuck around at PG.

I will say, part of the reason it's an 'experiment' is because of how much of a baby Giannis still is in basketball. He didn't start playing basketball seriously until he was 12 when his brother forced him to play it instead of soccer.. And even then he wasn't playing against the best competition relative to his age year after year, like guys like Jabari, Wiggins, Randle, and other rookies were able to from an early age. One of the reasons he dropped in the draft.

He's never going to be Magic..but the necessity for him to refine these skills shouldn't be a knock on him, it's a product of his background.

Giannis started off as a PG though and as he grew he slotted into a F role. If Kidd/Payton can refine him into a pure point forward then that is scary as hell for the rest of the league. He'll be a legit 1-5 threat (especially as his body fills out) - even more than Magic.

Not saying he'll be better than Magic but he'll be able to cover every position on the court on both ends better than him.

[Crown&Coke]

Would Kidd have said he planned on playing G at the point had they not landed the #2 pick J. Parker?

[Pointguard]

He's going to be an all around great. He's Learning from two smart versatile greats. Is as long and co-ordinated as Durant but is groomed for an all around game. Has the mind with all of the physical advantages. One of my biggest curiosities I ever had about a players development.

[Budadiiii]

Good for him. I think he's gonna be a multiple nba all star, but not an NBA superstar.
Nobody cares about your opinion bruh. You have limited basketball knowledge.

"I think......"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86MO-JWTNjo

[Mr Exlax]

Nobody cares about your opinion bruh. You have limited basketball knowledge.

"I think......"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86MO-JWTNjo

Russ?

[Milbuck]

Giannis started off as a PG though and as he grew he slotted into a F role. If Kidd/Payton can refine him into a pure point forward then that is scary as hell for the rest of the league. He'll be a legit 1-5 threat (especially as his body fills out) - even more than Magic.

Not saying he'll be better than Magic but he'll be able to cover every position on the court on both ends better than him.
Yeah, reminds me of how Anthony Davis has guard like skills in a PF/C's body from back before his growth spurt. Giannis has better vision than a ton of traditional PG prospects, just a matter of refining those skills.

And agreed, he already played some center during summer league..he's at 215-220 right now, if he gets to 235ish I could see him playing big minutes at PF later on, he's already got the height/length/wingspan to play it.

[Budadiiii]

Russ?
Yeah, what's up?

[Mr Exlax]

Yeah, what's up?

Ha I didn't know this was you. I read that response and I was like damn this reminds me of him.

[Suguru101]

Yeah, what's up?

Weren't you at -3 some days ago?

Damn, BTE gave it to you fast and hard. :oldlol:

[Suguru101]

I feel like this could work if they eased him into it with a combo guard next to him, so that he wouldn't have ball handling duty every trip down the court.

But good luck to him, definitely has the size to terrorize PG and SG, though i don't know if he has a post game yet.

[moe94]

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HtHvEYIYPr0/U8CqmO351aI/AAAAAAAAI0E/NqsIvTFPamo/s1600/2.gif
amazing :bowdown:

[TheReal Kendall]

No hate but I don't think this is gonna work. At least not running the PG full time, I can see point forward.

I feel like he's too tall and smaller guards like Bradley, Westbrook and Beverly gonna harass the shit out of him.

He doesn't look like he has the strength to back down smaller guards either.

I haven't seen him play so this all opinion based on the gifs and a few youtube clips.

Dude is crazy athletic though. I wonder how much GP getting paid to do this.

[sammichoffate]

http://gifrific.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Bucks-Mascot-Tries-to-Scare-Kobe-Bryant.gif
:oldlol:
No but on a serious note:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v405/misshape/RandyCum.jpg
This league is gonna get turned upside buckin' down :pimp:

[Legends66NBA7]

So has DeRozan.

[JellyBean]

This should be pretty interesting. I do hope that things work out for this young man, Kidd, and the Bucks.

[King Boozer]

If this experiment does go into play this season, it's gunna *** up a lot of fantasy #'s lol. :hammerhead:

[Pointguard]

Its really intriguing that Kidd sees this with real conviction, and Kidd knows what it is he sees. Its wild. Hope Giant Ant is finished growing.

Somebody help me - was there an Avenger named Giant Ant or Ant man???

[gyu]

Payton mentored terrace Williams and now he plays in China.

[Pointguard]

Payton mentored terrace Williams and now he plays in China.
He wasn't going to be the best trash talker here in the states... why not.

On the real, what Payton teaches will be bounced off of Kidd anyway. Payton knows the value of being a consultant better now and is at worse, just one more serious great point guard saying this is meant for you.

[Milbuck]

Its really intriguing that Kidd sees this with real conviction, and Kidd knows what it is he sees. Its wild. Hope Giant Ant is finished growing.

Somebody help me - was there an Avenger named Giant Ant or Ant man???
http://i.imgur.com/DCtTRJT.png

Ant man :dancin

[sammichoffate]

http://i.imgur.com/DCtTRJT.png

Ant man :dancin:oldlol: