Suddenly, it feels like the NBA can’t go two days without an athlete going berserk, setting either a new personal best or breaking a team record for scoring. On Monday, it was Donovan Mitchell reaching 71 points. On Tuesday, it was Giannis Antetokounmpo’s turn to go off.
The Milwaukee Bucks superstar was taking on the Washington Wizards, who came into the matchup allowing the 14th-fewest points per game in the NBA. Yet, the Greek Freak didn’t care about any of that and took matters into his own hands.
Antetokounmpo scored a whopping 55 points, leading the Bucks to a 123-113 victory. Sure, it’s Giannis, he frequently posts ridiculous stat lines, but scoring over 50 isn’t exactly common for the 7-foot-tall positionless basketball star.
So how did he accomplish the feat on Tuesday? Let’s dive in.
Related: Single-game NBA scoring records for all 30 teams: Donovan Mitchell bests LeBron James
Giannis Antetokounmpo sets new personal best with 55 points
Antetokounmpo’s previous career-high was set back in 2019 against the Philadelphia 76ers, in which he scored 52 points. While Tuesday’s effort tops his previous best by three points, he still doesn’t hold Milwaukee’s all-time franchise record, held by sharpshooter Michael Redd, who once scored 57 back in 2006.
In the modern day, we usually see players reach enormous point totals thanks to the increase in volume of three-point attempts, but that’s not Antetokounmpo’s game. Amazingly, he scored 55 without hitting a single shot from distance, going 0-for-3 from downtown. I don’t think it hurt his confidence one bit.
Here’s the stat line from what may qualify as one of his best performances of the two-time NBA MVP’s career.
- Giannis Antetokounmpo’s stat line: 55 points, 10 REB, 7 AST, 2 STL – 20/33 FG, 15/16 FT
What may be most noticeable here (aside from the 55 points) is the fact that Antetokounmpo sank 93.7% of his shots from the free-throw line. This is a player who came into the night averaging just 64.5% (65.6% after tonight) from the charity stripe this season and is a 71.2% shooter from the line in his 10-year career.
While Antetokounmpo, 28, has put forth many memorable performances in his illustrious career, this is likely a night he’ll never forget, along with thousands of other fans who had the chance to witness such a spectacle.
