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Giannis Antetokounmpo is a rarity amongst NBA players, notably due to his insistence on achieving a Hall of Fame worthy career with the team that drafted him. In an era of superteams and player power, finding stars who are willing to buck the trend and stay committed to their franchise is akin to a winning lottery ticket.
Granted, one-teamers are rare in any sport, but most NBA stars team up to win their first championship, whereas Giannis Antetokounmpo stood pat and trusted in the Milwaukee Bucks' front office.
Giannis Antetokounmpo and his positive impact on the NBA
Unbeknownst to Giannis Antetokounmpo or the Milwaukee Bucks, the two-time MVP's decision to stay loyal to the only American city he's ever called home has had a wide-ranging positive impact on both the NBA and the sport of basketball as a whole.
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#5 A team to root for
Not every basketball fan roots for a specific team, some simply enjoy watching the game, while others follow the sport on the periphery and are yet to choose "their team". Giannis Antetokounmpo, among other superstars such as LeBron James, Damian Lillard, and even Zion Williamson will all draw attention to their respective franchises, bringing new fans (and revenue streams) as a result.
Everybody loves an underdog story, and when you consider both the current firepower, and the pulling power, of teams such as the Los Angeles Lakers, Brooklyn Nets, Boston Celtics, and even the New York Knicks (in a few years, maybe), seeing the Milwaukee Bucks beat the odds is enchanting.
Who doesn't want to see the underdog win? Sure, Giannis Antetokounmpo's presence on the roster means Milwaukee will always be in contention, but we've seen them fall short on multiple occasions. Yet new fans keep tuning into games that feature Giannis Antetokounmpo because his story and loyalty are spellbinding.
Most fans born in the mid-to-late 80's know a bunch of casual NBA viewers who are Chicago Bulls fans due to the Michael Jordan effect. Modern fandom is centered more towards the players than any specific team, and we can thank LeBron James for that, but there's also a growing contingent of Giannis Antetokounmpo fans due to his reliability as an individual.
#4 European influx
Currently, some of the best players in the NBA are of European descent, with Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo being the primary three. For every generation of fresh European talent, a new generation of basketball players is born.
Dirk Nowitski is widely considered the most successful European basketball player of all time - in terms of NBA success - and all three of the NBA's current European stars have spoken about his influence on their games. That was one guy, imagine what happens now there are three superstars dominating the NBA!
Giannis Antetokounmpo has led the pack in recent seasons, dominating as both a player and a beacon of light for young basketball players who aren't situated in the United States.
Not only do these young upcomers now tune into the NBA consistently, so do an older generation of Europeans, who now feel a sense of pride that their countries, or neighboring countries, have produced such immense basketball talent.
The NBA and basketball as a whole are growing in popularity around the world, and having players such as Giannis Antetokounmpo fly the flag for people not based in America is only going to continue pushing the league, and the sport, to new heights.
#3 Small Market Confidence
Would Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks have won the 2020 NBA Championship if they didn't add Jrue Holiday to their roster last season? Probably not. You see, having a player like Giannis Antetokounmpo who has committed his future to your franchise gives you the confidence to roll the dice.
You can't rest on your laurels when one of the best players in the world resides on your roster. Doing so is a recipe for a trade request, see Damian Lillard's off-season for further proof.
Unfortunately, the sad truth is that most generational talents are drafted by small market teams, it's just how the NBA shakes out. The league's elite are scarcely bad enough to be in lottery contention, and it does happen, but not often.
As such, for smaller market teams, they're under enormous pressure to create a winning environment for their young stars, or face losing them once their development is in its final stages.
Teams will take heed of Milwaukee's success with Giannis Antetokounmpo and will likely try to emulate the blueprint. This doesn't mean small market teams should be mortgaging their futures, but perhaps being more aggressive in their pursuit of a championship caliber roster is a fair middle ground.
Keep an eye on the Detroit Pistons and how they navigate the development of Killian Hayes and Cade Cunningham over the next few years. Giannis Antetokounmpo has laid out the blueprint for those players, as the Milwaukee Bucks have for the team, but walking the walk is a different story.
#2 A new face to take over from LeBron James
It's long been assumed Giannis Antetokounmpo is the next in to be the face of the NBA. LeBron James may be superhuman, but eventually his time atop the mountain will come to an end, and a successor will be needed.
Giannis Antetokounmpo isn't a surefire answer to who becomes the NBA's next "face." Jayson Tatum, Luka Doncic, Devin Booker, Zion Williamson and Anthony Davis will all stake their claims when the time comes.
However, Giannis Antetokounmpo's personality and loyalty to his roster will be a huge selling point for the league, and his consistent success at the highest level isn't doing him any harm either.
#1 Social Media Pulling Power
Hate it or love it, the NBA is a brand and brands need a social media presence. The same is true for the league's players, each one looking to build their brand and develop continued business success long after the ball stops bouncing.
Social media buzzes off sharable content, be it a highlight, comedic quote or moment, or a captivating story. Giannis Antetokounmpo is a social media dream! His 50-piece chicken nugget IG Live drew in over 100,000 live viewers and was watched by millions around the world on replays.
Having successful players produce such wholesome and relatable content fits right into the NBA's modus operandi perfectly. Couple those personal stories and videos with the fearsome dunks, mind boggling blocks, and eventual championships, and the league is able to pull in new viewers consistently.
Giannis Antetokounmpo will continue to succeed on the court, that's just who he is, but that provides both himself and the NBA the opportunity to market him and use social channels to continue growing the game of basketball. Everybody is a winner.
