Imagine a young basketball prodigy being told to hold back on one of the most thrilling shots in the game. Sounds counterintuitive, right? But that’s exactly what happened to Giannis Antetokounmpo under the guidance of his then-coach, Jason Kidd. During a recent Bucks-Mavericks matchup, Giannis not only hit a deep three-pointer but also delivered a playful yet pointed message to Kidd, his former mentor. And this is the part most people miss: it wasn’t just about the shot—it was about years of coaching advice that Giannis felt held him back from developing his long-range game earlier in his career.
Giannis, now a dominant force in the NBA, reminisced about his early days under Kidd’s tutelage. From 2014 to 2018, Kidd coached Giannis, shaping him into an all-around player but also discouraging him from taking three-point shots. Fast forward to Monday’s game, and Giannis couldn’t resist a bit of playful revenge. After sinking a deep three late in the fourth quarter, he quipped, ‘That was for you, for all the torture you put me through.’ It was a lighthearted jab, but it also highlighted a broader debate in player development: Should coaches limit a player’s natural instincts, or should they encourage experimentation?
But here’s where it gets controversial: While Giannis credits Kidd for much of his success, he also believes Kidd’s approach slowed his growth as a three-point shooter. ‘He helped me a lot, but I think he took away from my game when I was younger,’ Giannis admitted. This raises a thought-provoking question: Do coaches sometimes stifle a player’s potential by imposing their vision too rigidly? Or is it a necessary part of molding a well-rounded athlete?
On a more serious note, Giannis sees Kidd’s influence extending to the Mavericks’ young rookie, Cooper Flagg. Describing Flagg as a high-IQ player with immense potential, Giannis believes Kidd will have a similar transformative impact on him. ‘Kidd is okay,’ Giannis joked, drawing laughs from reporters, before adding, ‘He’s one of my mentors. I still talk to him to this day.’ Giannis emphasized the value of having a coach who not only teaches the game but also instills the mindset needed to lead a team.
Kidd, for his part, acknowledges that his approach with Giannis wasn’t without criticism. ‘A lot of people disagreed, but I think it turned out alright,’ he reflected. Kidd’s focus on developing Giannis’s passing skills and unselfish play paid off, making him one of the best players in the world. Now, Kidd is applying those lessons to Flagg, tailoring his coaching style to nurture the young guard’s unique talents.
So, here’s the big question for you: Do you think coaches should allow players to explore all aspects of their game, even if it means making mistakes, or should they guide them toward a specific style? Let us know in the comments—this is a debate that’s far from settled!
