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Kidd says Giannis flies under radar due to 'hard to pronounce' name

Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Many NBA observers fully expected Giannis Antetokounmpo to take the next step this season, and for the most part it's happening. With the 6-foot-11 "Greek Freak" seeing minutes at all five positions, he's hitting career highs almost across the board - leading the Milwaukee Bucks in scoring and rebounding while ranking second in assists.

Yet, while plying one's basketball trade in a small market like Milwaukee often means flying under the national radar, head coach Jason Kidd has another theory about Antetokounmpo's lesser name recognition.

"It's hard to pronounce," Kidd said Sunday, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Charles F. Gardner.

He's right about that, as even President Barack Obama found out. Yet the fact a White House speechwriter chose to invoke Antetokounmpo's name demonstrates the impact the 21-year-old is capable of.

Kidd starts Antetokounmpo at point guard and often has him close games at center in small-ball lineups. It's a skill set rarely seen, evidenced by the fact that in last week's win over the Orlando Magic, he became just the fourth NBA player since 1984 to finish a game with at least 20 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists, five steals, and three blocks (the others are Michael Jordan, Hakeem Olajuwon, and Andrei Kirilenko).

As it stands today, Antetokounmpo - with a top-20 PER - should be an All-Star this season, although fan voting and reserve selection is at least partially based on team success. Through 15 games, the Bucks are a bubble playoff squad, sitting one game under .500.

It's also becoming clear that whatever success they enjoy will be dependent on Antetokounmpo.

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