The Milwaukee Bucks just love collecting unicorns. After Giannis Antetokounmpo just finished one of the most uniquely brilliant, statistical seasons in NBA history, who can blame them?
At 22.9/8.7/5.4/1.6/1.9, The Greek Freak not only became the first player in history to finish top 20 in the league in all categories (as well as topping the Bucks averages in each), he solidified Milwaukee’s current direction of collecting tall, long, athletic guys who can do things their size says they shouldn’t. AKA, the unicorn.
Ever since June 27, 2013, when the Bucks selected Antetokounmpo with the 15th pick, you can depict a clear trend the bucks are setting when it comes to their first round selections.
(Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
In 2014, the Bucks selected Jabari Parker (second overall) who was widely known for being one of the best scorers to ever come out of college. At 6’8, with an almost seven foot wingspan and an ability to run the floor and just flat out score from anywhere on the court, you can see the unicorn potential with this pick.
In 2015, the Bucks selected the now much maligned Rashad Vaughan (17th overall), who in hindsight, is certainly no Unicorn. On draft night though, you could certainly see the potential however, being a 6’5” combo guard with a 6’7” wingspan who shot almost 40 per cent from three in his lone season at UNLV.
In 2016, the Bucks selected Thon Maker (10th overall) who just oozes Unicorn potential. A genuine seven footer who can space the floor and guard multiple positions at an elite level. If Giannis wasn’t already on the team, I’d say Thon has the potential to be the best two way player in Bucks history.
And that brings us to 2017, with the Bucks selecting DJ Wilson (17th overall), who surprise surprise, looks like a Unicorn in the making. A big with a 7’3” wingspan and ability to knock down 3’s, I wouldn’t at all be surprised if DJ Wilson shines in this new Unicorn Island, the Bucks are currently developing.
So if you’re a PG without a 6’10 wingspan, or a seven footer who can’t run the floor or shoot the lights out, don’t expect to be drafted in the first round by the Bucks any time soon. Milwaukee is currently dealing in Unicorns and I for one am more than ok with this.
mushi
Guest
Giannis sure... But the rest? If being a stretch 4 in the NBA is as rare as a unicorn then gee perhaps the government should look into a cull program before we're over run by the horned beats
Ben Sewell
Roar Pro
Thanks mate :D
mbradleyc
Guest
But, Giannis.
Larry Seely
Roar Rookie
Great to see some writing on sports from the States. Milwaukee is definitely a team on the rise and despite being a mid-market side, have done a great job through the NBA Draft in recent years and your spot on with your article regarding their choice in players.
mushi
Guest
I think you fell for your science teacher’s (or art if they were a Da Vinci fan) simple arms = height. For the average person it’s marginally more than their height. For NBA players it’s supposed to be +4-5 inches. For example if you look at all potential SF drafted in the first round the average height for 6’8” to 7’2” wingspan is 6’7.5” So Parker with a 6’8 height and 7 foot wingspan is actually just around, to just below, average. DJ Wilson was the second tallest guy to measure with a 7’3” wingspan. Also I think you are overselling Jabari’s versatility defensively. In theory I’d agree Jabari can guard many positons to the same level of effectiveness… in the same vein I am confident that I could guard 5 positions in the NBA with almost statistically impossible versatility. Jabari can’t guard squat at the moment. Even then I must admit I freaking hate the prevalence of this unicorn concept. It’s supposed to be this elusive unattainable hybrid (Think LeBron or, maybe if you squint, Green) but it just keeps getting applied to players who trade one set of skills and weaknesses for another. Porzingis got the unicorn label because he (theoretically) “could” develop to not just defend multiple positions but fill multiple defensive rolls of paint patroller, isolation defender on elite wings and post stopper all whilst on offence being able to shoot, score in the post, drive or roll from the pick and create offence in iso up or down one position. That’s a unicorn,