Milwaukee Bucks' powerhouse Giannis Antetokounmpo has faced his share of injury woes since the 2018-19 season, but let's not jump to conclusions about his reliability. Comparing him to Joel Embiid, as Bill Simmons did recently, might not paint the full picture.
While Giannis played a maximum of 73 games in the 2023-24 season, he clocked in 430 games over seven seasons. That's a solid track record compared to Embiid, who played a total of 327 games in the same timeframe.
Embiid's injury history is no secret, with his highest season total being 68 games. Giannis, on the other hand, has nearly a season and a half more under his belt than the Philadelphia 76ers' big man. Despite this, Simmons recently suggested on his podcast that Giannis' injury concerns are akin to Embiid's.
Simmons remarked, “[Giannis] is closer to Embiid than Jokic. He doesn't play.
He gets hurt all the time. I would be really scared about this.”
He questioned the wisdom of a team like Miami trading assets and committing to a hefty $280 million extension without assurance of Giannis' availability.
It's worth noting that Simmons, a well-known Boston Celtics fan, might have a personal angle here. The Miami Heat and New York Knicks are among the teams reportedly eyeing Giannis, and adding him could spell trouble for the Celtics.
Despite the injury concerns, Giannis' performance remains undeniable. Coming off three consecutive seasons averaging over 30 points per game and maintaining a 27.6 average this season even with injuries, he's a tempting acquisition for any team willing to take the leap.