Darvin Ham Compares Giannis Antetokounmpo's Play With Greek National Team To "Superman" Role With Bucks

Sep 2, 2025

For the third time in his career, Giannis Antetokounmpo has donned the national colors of Greece at the prestigious EuroBasket tournament. After the Greek squad pulled a 75-66 victory over Italy last Friday, one of Antetokounmpo’s coaches in the NBA couldn’t help but notice a key difference in the performance of the Milwaukee Bucks superstar.

Following Greece’s nine-point victory at the Spyros Kyprianou Arena in Cyprus, Bucks assistant coach Darvin Ham was asked if Antetokounmpo plays a “different role” with the Greek national team. In a way, Ham’s response can be viewed as a statement on the distinction between international play and the NBA style.

“ “It’s more team-oriented,” Ham said of Antetokounmpo’s dynamic with his teammates on the Greek squad. “More sets, all of that is different here. They don’t play as fast as we do in the NBA.” „

Ham, who will be entering his second season as an assistant to Bucks head coach Doc Rivers, had no qualms admitting the extent of Antetokounmpo’s responsibilities on their NBA team.

“ “In the NBA, his usage rate is off the charts. He has the ball constantly in his hands,” Ham pointed out. “With us, he has to be Superman.” „

On the one hand, Ham could be referring to the fact that the 12-year pro has adapted to the isolation-heavy style that is prevalent in the NBA. On the other hand, the Bucks assistant coach was perhaps thinking of the roster turnover in Milwaukee in recent seasons.

Antetokounmpo has seen the likes of Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton, perhaps his two most important teammates during their 2021 championship run, get shipped away to other teams over the past two years. Though the Greek Freak has been paired with seven-time All-NBA selection Damian Lillard, the spitfire guard missed several games this past season due to deep vein thrombosis in his left calf.

Hanisch, J. (2024). Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo [Photo], Imagn Images

All these circumstances have added to the tremendous burden on Antetokounmpo’s shoulders. To his credit, he has averaged 30.6 points, 11.7 assists, and 6.2 assists over the past three seasons. However, the physical toll on the two-time NBA MVP has also escalated, even causing him to miss the 2023-24 playoffs.

Ham spoke glowingly about Antetokounmpo’s “Superman” prowess in Milwaukee, but unless the team finds a way to get better contributions from his supporting cast, the Greek Freak might not be able to soar to championship heights once again.

Written by Dave Blinebury

Dave Blinebury is a sports die-hard who has written extensively about the careers and achievements of NBA athletes. He has also covered the intensity of FIBA tournaments, watched Brittney Sykes sink the title-clinching shot in the first season of Unrivaled, and waxed poetic about Olympic boxing.