Alright guys, so the other night I was watching Bucks highlights, right? Couldn’t help but notice Giannis palming the ball like it was a dang orange. Got me thinking – what actually is so wild about his mitts? Decided to dig in and see what makes them tick. Here’s exactly how it went down.
Starting Simple: Just Lookin’
First things first, I pulled up some close-up shots of Giannis catching passes. Like, high-def stuff. Zoomed way in. Yeah, obvious thing right away: dude’s fingers look like freakin’ tree roots. Seriously long and weirdly spread out. Compared it to a photo of my own hand… yeah, no contest. Felt like matching a toddler’s hand against a powerlifter’s.
Getting the Tape Measure Out (For Real)
Okay, everyone talks about his hand size. Wanted actual numbers. Found reports about his measurements – apparently official combine stuff. Made my desk ruler look pathetic. Measured my own hand span from pinky tip to thumb tip stretched out. Mine? Maybe 9 inches pushing it. Giannis? Over 12 freaking inches across. That’s not a hand, that’s a baseball glove! Made me try stretching my fingers painfully wide trying to imagine it. Spoiler: felt stupid and couldn’t even get close.
Focusing on the Pinky & Ring Finger
Kept hearing people mention those two fingers specifically. Went back to the slow-mo replays, especially when he palms the ball casually mid-dribble. Paused it. Rewound. Watched frame by frame. Noticed how the pinky and ring finger seem to do most of the heavy lifting pinching the ball against his palm when he’s got it controlled. Mine just kind of flap uselessly. His look extra beefy and long compared to the others, almost independent. Tried copying that pinch grip on a basketball sitting on my kitchen counter. Ball kept rolling off. Frustrating!
Thinking About His Shooting Form (The Awkward Bit)
We all know his shot ain’t exactly textbook. Figured his hands must play a part. Grabbed my dusty ball and stood awkwardly in the living room mimicking his form. Felt how his long fingers probably wrap way too much around the ball early on his release. Made me realize his big hands might actually hinder getting a clean, quick flick sometimes. Saw him miss a free throw and winced in solidarity.
The Final Piece: Seeing That Weird Bend
Kept reading fan forums late into the night about this “double-jointed” thing people swore they saw. Found this one super clear slow-motion clip where he’s catching a high pass. Paused right at the catch moment. Yep. His thumb bends backwards crazy far. Like, unnervingly far backwards. Tried flexing my own thumb back gently… yeah, nope, didn’t work. No double-jointedness here. That extra bend probably gives him even more control or cushion when snagging hard passes. Crazy to think something so small helps him dominate.
So, after messing around trying to understand his freak hands myself? Yeah, it’s mostly impossible for us mortals. Giant hand span? Check. Pinky/Ringer finger dominance? Check. Weird thumb flexibility? Check. Dude’s got alien appendages working for him. Tried palming my ball again after all this. Still dropped it. Oh well.
