When the Miami Heat acquired superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo in the offseason via trade, the prevailing thought was they would become legit contenders in the Eastern Conference. However, that has not yet materialized as the Heat have gotten off to a slow start to the year at 1-4. But amid the team’s poor start, Antetokounmpo has been putting up historic numbers, as per OptaSTATs, raising questions as to who is to blame for the early play.

Through the Heat’s first five games of the season, Giannis Antetokounmpo has become the first player in NBA history to have at least 125 points and at least 50 rebounds within the first five games of a season, and having lost four of those five games.

The Heat had actually started out the year at 0-4, and just recently picked up their first win of the season, 129-129-117, against the Atlanta Hawks. In that game, Antetokounmpo finished with 24 points, 18 rebounds, three assists, one steal and one blocked shot. He shot 11-of-18 from the field, 0-of-2 from the 3-point line and 2-of-5 from the 3-point line.

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On the season, Antetokounmpo is playing a little over 31 minutes per game. He’s averaging 27.6 points, 11.2 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.0 steals with splits of 56.7 percent shooting from the field, 25 percent shooting from the 3-point line and 59.5 percent shooting from the free-throw line.

He is currently leading the league in 2-point shots made and attempted. The No. 15 overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, the Greek native spent the first 13 seasons of his career with the Milwaukee Bucks. He led the team to the 2021 NBA championships, and was a two-time MVP and Defensive Player of the Year winner.