You can tell someone has a big heart by their willingness to take a hit just to help a stranger. Imagine this scenario: you’re at the grocery store, minding your own business, when you see a man trying to snatch a woman’s purse. What would you do? If you’re Giannis Antetokounmpo, you’d shout at the thief, chase him down, and ensure the woman gets her purse back, even if it means taking an elbow to the eye during the struggle. At 6’11” and 243 pounds, he may appear like a giant on the basketball court, but he truly knows how to look out for others.

On All the Smoke podcast, Rajon Rondo pulled back the curtain on Giannis. He was being honest when he said, “He’s a great teammate. You know, I think there’s a lot of similarities with Kevin Garnett, how he was. Guys like playing with him. He’s an extremely hard worker and open to criticism. I think a lot of superstars—you know, I don’t know everybody obviously—but you hear the chatters out there about him not being coachable. For a guy like him, I know the difference between having his brother here this year versus last year is a big difference. He’s a great human being, a lot of great energy, and great support for him.”

This offseason, the Bucks took significant steps to ensure Giannis feels at home in Milwaukee. In a historic move for the NBA, the team successfully placed all three Antetokounmpo brothers on the same active roster. Alex Antetokounmpo joined the team on a two-way contract, while Thanasis, the second-oldest sibling who had spent the previous five seasons with Milwaukee but missed all of last year due to a torn Achilles, signed a one-year deal worth $2.9 million to return.

With that box officially checked, the Bucks are heavily relying on Giannis, which is no surprise considering he led Milwaukee to its 2021 championship title. In their most recent game against the Cavaliers, he scored an impressive 40 points on 14-of-20 shooting, though the Bucks still fell short. This season, Giannis has already achieved nine games with 30 or more points in just 12 appearances, putting the team squarely on his shoulders.

He’s averaging 32.6 points (2nd in the league), 11.3 rebounds (6th), and 7.1 assists (13th), with a sizzling 63% shooting from the field (8th), and that’s despite missing a few games thanks to his persistent left-knee patellar tendinopathy and a recent groin tweak that forced him out mid-game. The Greek Freak’s dominance is undeniable. 

His and the team’s hard work is clearly paying off, especially considering the Bucks brought in Rondo for private coaching this season.

Rondo’s classroom: Bucks’ backcourt gets schooled

This season, the Bucks found a cheat code in Rajon Rondo. Doc Rivers handed him the keys to the backcourt, and suddenly Milwaukee’s young guards aren’t just playing; they’re thinking, reading, and reacting like mini Rondo clones. As he told Thanasis Antetokounmpo, “I’m able to talk to the guys, and my biggest strength is to be able to help the guys [make] in-game adjustments on the fly.” Translation: the floor just got smarter.

The effects were clear against the Bulls. Ryan Rollins, thrown into the lead-guard fire thanks to an injury, put up 20 points, six boards, four assists, and three steals while barely breaking a sweat. Rivers joked, or maybe not, that Rondo literally hunts players down on the road to make sure they’ve watched film. He doesn’t just tell them what to do; he drills it into their heads, teaching them to talk, move, and think ahead. 

Beyond teaching reads and passing, Rondo is helping the guards understand timing, spacing, and defensive awareness. Cole Anthony, the former Magic guard, is learning to play with purpose in pick-and-rolls and find cutters and shooters, while Rollins is starting to use his size advantage to see over defenses and make smarter plays. Rondo’s philosophy is simple but powerful: “Let me do all the thinking for you. I’ll put you in the right spots. I’ll put the other guys in the right spots, so the game is easier for you.”  

How far Rondo’s magic will carry the Bucks remains to be seen, but for now, the team sits at 8-7, holding the 9th seed in the Eastern Conference.