How did Giannis Antetokounmpo shift from a raw prospect to one of the most commanding two-way forces of his era? Marques Johnson witnessed the answer up close. The Milwaukee Bucks great, now working as an analyst for Fox Sports Wisconsin, recalled a night when Giannis marched back onto the court after struggling at the free-throw line, choosing to grind through extra reps long after the final buzzer.
“My favorite Giannis story is from last season. They had just lost a game and he had struggled from the line that night. I’m walking to my car in the parking structure, and it’s probably two degrees outside, so I’m hurrying to get there. The crowd of people had just been let out of the game, and I see this tall, skinny black dude kind of weaving his way through the crowd, and he’s got on [an undershirt] and shorts. I’m like, ‘What’s this fool doing out here half-dressed?” Marques Johnson recalled in his interview with NBA.com.
“And it was Giannis, running to the practice facility to get up some free throws. It just blew me away. That’s just the mindset he has. It’s really refreshing to be around.”
Giannis Antetokounmpo’s work ethic and motivation
June 24, 2019; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo poses with his NBA most valuable player award at the 2019 NBA Awards show at Barker Hanger. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
The biggest takeaway from Antetokounmpo’s journey is that consistent hard work always produces results. He moved from humble beginnings in Greece to becoming an MVP, a Defensive Player of the Year and an NBA champion.
So when he stayed late to practice from the line, the task felt simple compared to the obstacles he had already fought through to reach that level.
Johnson noted that the moment stuck with him. He didn’t specify which game it was, but it took place during the Bucks’ 2017-18 season, one year after Antetokounmpo claimed the league’s Most Improved Player award.
The Greek Freak with the Bucks
Nov 3, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) celebrates a basket in the second half against the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
Several years after Johnson watched Antetokounmpo bolt into two-degree weather wearing barely anything, the free-throw line still marked the most visible hole in an otherwise refined skill set. Yet that concern revealed only a fraction of the bigger picture. His perimeter game, stretching from mid-range jumpers to long threes, remained the swing factor that could lift his overall impact to an even higher level.
This season, Giannis is pacing toward career-best averages with 32.6 points and 7.1 assists per game for the Bucks. His free-throw struggles and outside shooting still need work, but his complete game overwhelms opponents, driven by his tireless commitment. At a level like his, the flaws are easy to forgive because the impact he delivers is so massive.