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Dayton’s new coach explained the situation on the first Anthony Grant Show of the season Monday on WHIO Radio.
“He hadn’t played an organized basketball game in two years,” Grant said. “Last year he was not allowed to practice in the first semester, and in the second semester, my understanding is because of they were so advanced into their season, he didn’t get a lot of reps. Most of what he did was work out individually, one on one stuff, or by himself or not at all.”
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Dayton hired Grant on March 30. He started working on getting to know his new players in April but said he had only four or five sessions, each about 30 to 45 minutes, with Antetokounmpo on the court before he left to play for Greece’s Under-20 national team in June.
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Then in July, Antetokounmpo hurt his knee. He missed three months of action, Grant said.
“He started practice with non-contact for about two weeks, which meant he couldn’t really go up and down,” Grant said. “Then his father passed away. He had to leave for another 10 days. Prior to him playing against Ohio Dominican, he may have had four or five days of practice where he had competition. So he just needs to continue to get himself in better condition and continue to work, and I think his upside, his potential is really high.”
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