On December 6th, 1994, Giannis Antetokounmpo was born and eventually went on to make rim-shattering dunks for the Bucks. (0:49)

MILWAUKEE -- "What's cooler than being cool?" Andre 3000 bellowed as he glided around the stage at Staples Center wearing sunglasses, a candy-striper outfit and a paper wedge hat.

"Ice cold!" the backup singers answered as they gyrated behind him as OutKast performed "Hey Ya," one of the hottest songs of the moment.

It was the opening sequence of the 2004 All-Star Game in Los Angeles. Within moments, the singer asked the crowd if it was ready to meet the players and he stepped aside so Michael Redd, dressed in a baggy purple-and-black Milwaukee Bucks warmup, could be announced for his first All-Star appearance.

Redd played 15 minutes and scored 13 points. A Buck hasn't been seen in an All-Star Game since, the longest drought of star power in the league.

In 2004, Giannis Antetokounmpo was just 9 years old and had no interest in basketball. Living in the Sepolia section of Athens, Greece, he played soccer like his father and oldest brother, who were stars in Nigeria. He didn't even start playing basketball until three years later, when he was 12.

The Antetokounmpo story is as outlandish as the Bucks' search for him. The Bucks have been in need of a franchise player since Ray Allen was sent to Seattle in 2003 in one of the more ill-advised moves in recent NBA history. Redd's shot at it was cut short because of debilitating injuries that forced early retirement.

They have him now. One of the biggest talking points among league executives and scouts this season is the explosive growth of Antetokounmpo this season. Since Bucks coach Jason Kidd made the intriguing decision to install the Greek Freak as a part-time point guard near the end of last season, his playmaking has wowed opponents and teammates.

Last week he had a 34-point game against the Cavs. Saturday he had 10 rebounds, six assists, five blocks and two steals in a win over the Nets. Monday he won his second Player of the Week Award (and lost a home nail-biter to the Spurs despite his 22 points and 11 rebounds, snapping a four-game win streak).

Tuesday he turns 22 years old, younger than NBA rookies like Buddy Hield and teammate Malcolm Brogdon.

Kidd has had to knock Antetokounmpo in line at times over the past few seasons and he's been cautious to always point out how much his young star still has to learn. On Monday, for example, he was isolated in a vital late possession against the outsized Manu Ginobili and wasn't able to get it done, in part because he still doesn't have confidence in his jumper.

Still night after night, Antetokounmpo makes breathtaking plays with this athleticism, size and burgeoning skill. He's averaging 22 points, nine rebounds and six assists plus two steals and two blocks per game. He's also shooting 52 percent. He's doing it while playing a mix of point guard, both forward spots and even some center on defense in various lineups.

Seeing the potential spill forth, Kidd can't help himself. He knows he shouldn't say out loud what he and his coaches have been talking about amongst themselves, but this last week has loosened his lips.

Giannis Antetokounmpo is looking to become the first Bucks All-Star since Michael Redd in 2004. Getty Images

"Having being around some of the best in the world in LeBron (James) and Dirk (Nowitzki)," Kidd said referencing former Team USA and Dallas Mavericks teammates, "wouldn't it be cool to have those two combined as one player? Maybe that could happen."

Of all the things Kidd has seen from Antetokounmpo, he finds himself marveling at the passing the most. Recently he found center John Henson with a perfect bounce pass through traffic that led to an easy hoop. Seeing a 7-footer find another 7-footer on the move under pressure by bouncing it off the court left Kidd, one of the best passers of all time, rubbing his eyes.

"To be honest, I don't always think about it, it's just instinct," Antetokounmpo said. "Guys are like, 'how'd you do that?' and I say, 'I'm not thinking about it.' I see what the right pass is and I throw the pass. That's the way it's all been."

Putting it like that makes it seem like it's all natural talent. He's got plenty of it -- if he didn't, the Bucks wouldn't have gambled on him with the 15th pick in the 2013 draft in a move that now looks genius. They extended it by locking him up to a four-year, $100 million extension before the season that now looks like a bargain because it was for a handful of million less than the max salary. If there was ever a player who looked like a max at age 22, it's this athlete.

Just pointing to the pure talent sells him short. Teammates report that Antetokounmpo is diligent about watching film and studying the game. He's only been playing it half his life, which puts him behind most of his peers.

When he started to get interested in the game as a teenager after his older brother, Knicks prospect Thanasis, started playing, Antetokounmpo found himself drawn to YouTube highlights of Magic Johnson, Scottie Pippen and Allen Iverson. The way he passes, defends and plays with passion, you can see bits of all of them.

"I want to make great plays. It can be blocking a shot, it can be passing to an open teammate or dunking. Just great plays," he said. "That's what makes me excited."

In the preseason's annual general managers' survey, seven players received votes in the 'best player to start a franchise' category, a favorite area of debate every year. Karl-Anthony Towns got the most votes, a reasonable choice. Antetokounmpo got zero. Usually the second guessing on that survey comes 12 months later. If the vote was taken again today, Antetokounmpo would show up.

His first six weeks have been that impressive. As they consider the possibility of breaking their All-Star drought, the Bucks can't wait to see where the near future takes them.

"We're in the early stages of seeing where he can take us," Kidd said. "What he's done is show that he can handle a lot right now. There's going to be a time where we're going to raise the bar again and see how he does."