Ant is not even top 5 for “face of the league” . NBA media had to hype him up because the fact of Doncic being the actual face of the league is terrifying to them. Ant is just another D book with highlight dunks.
Once he had that hard fall in the semis, I think it was game 6, he just wasn't the same. I don't think the media was wrong in prompting him up when he was averaging 31-9-6 on 55/44/85 shooting splits across his first 10 playoff games this year. He was truly taking over the league. Just unfortunate to have that injury. These things happen, its okay, he's young.
Players like ant and Tatum are overhyped because they have “great teams” but somehow players like Luka and Jokic gets criticized when their team don’t play great…
The league has a reputation of racism. We all know who the racists are and we know why..... Luka and Jokic were overhyped.. They compared Luka to Jordan and Bron.. They compared Jokic to Wilt and Shaq.. Ant/Jordan is a meme.. Tatum gets absolutely no credit. He's undervalued. Listen to ESPN covering the Minnesota vs Denver game.. Very clearly rooting for Denver.. The commentator sounded upset and the ESPN analysts created a narrative that it's bizarre Denver lost as if it was a fluke..
No. He is already one of the FACES of the league along with Doncic, Jokic, Giannis, and others. He can grow into being THE GUY as he gets closer to his prime.
You can only be the guy if you're the best player tho. Sure maybe back then SG prototypes can be the best but the players nowadays like luka/jokic are basically lebron prototypes that can controls the whole game PLUS scoring.
People were just saying some of his moves remind them of MJ's game. That's not the same as saying he will have MJ's career...I don't know why people interpreted "his game reminds me of young MJ sometimes" to "he is the next MJ". Ant hates the comparison too
Game 2 Phoenix wasn't a stinker unless you're only looking at shooting %. Impacting winning isn't only about efficiency. His defense, playmaking and rebounding was great that game, I thought it was actually a mature Ant game where he wasn't forcing shots. He created for others more because he was doubled a lot and his shot wasn't falling. Even in the Mavs series, even though his first 2 games were bad, he averaged 25/9/8. The TOs especially in Game 2 were rough and I'd say those 2 games were his true stinkers. In the other games, even if his shooting efficiency was off he contributed with defense, rebounding and playmaking and was still a net positive.
He put the league on notice but I don't believe he's all of a sudden better than Ja. Ja is less likely to go quiet on offense. Particularly, when it's needed most. I like Ant and Tatum but they're hot and cold
everybody turns to mj, d wade, kobe when the perimeter defender they faced is grayson allen and had all mighty nurkic and dpoy candidate jokic at the rim
I give the wolves props for beating the nuggets in 7, but they get no credit for beating the suns. I never thought that suns team was worth a damn all season and it only seemed like after they got swept people took their blindfolds off and saw the truth.
It’s sad that people are basing their opinions on ant from reacting to what people in the media said. Critique him for his actions in a way that’s fair. Doesn’t mean you have to worship him or anything, but the man exceeded expectations with this playoff run. Give criticism and credit where it is due.
Uh yeah they propped him up…with the hopes of an an African-American taking over as not the future, but the “now” face of the league. Compared him to MJ, which is not an apt comparison. He’s more Tracy Macgrady. Sorry, but the league is international and those boys coming from overseas learn the game the right way. Athleticism, specifically the vertical component, is not the be-all, end-all to playing the game…it’s the combination of IQ and heart. The white euros are labeled as not athletic. In fact, Luka’s been tagged as a less athletic version of LB. Luka IS athletic…just not the type of athlete that sells Slam magazine
He’s ok. I came into the playoffs thinking he could be a top 5 player in the near future. Here and now I don’t think he’ll ever crack top 5 he’s super immature kinda a cornball and shouldn’t be on camera much until he learns how to talk better.
Sadly he wasn't going up against the worst paint achor of all time in that fat Serbian so he wasn't scoring for fun against Dallas like he was against the Nuggets. He might be Michael Jordan but sadly he ran into the next Lebron. #MFFL
