MILWAUKEE – Buddy Hield had to figure he had the angles. The New Orleans rookie curled toward the key, saw 7-footer Omer Asik rolling to the rim and, off the dribble, lobbed a pass toward the Pelicans center.

Bucks play-by-play man Jim Paschke already was in mid-observation about Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo as the play unfolded.

“One of the advantages when you’re 6-11 and you’re handling the ball,” Paschke said, “you see the court and the game from the top down.”

No kidding. In that instant, Antetokounmpo flashed in front of Asik to turn the alley into an oops. Three dribbles, two giant steps, a veer between scrambling New Orleans defenders and the Bucks’ “Greek Freak” was dropping in a layup. No need for extended commentary on this one from Paschke, who simply said, “Oh my goodness.”

This has been an oh-my-goodness season so far for Antetokounmpo, his fourth since the Bucks grabbed him with the No. 15 pick in the 2013 Draft. Each year, his game has taken strides nearly as great as his own, from points per 36 minutes (10.0 as a rookie, then 14.6, 17.2 and 23.0) to player-efficiency rating (10.8, 14.8, 18.8 and now 26.5). Through the Bucks’ first nine games, he was averaging 21.3 points, 8.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists while shooting 52.1 percent.

“He has the potential to be one of the greatest to play this game,” veteran teammate Jason Terry said of Antetokounmpo. “I say that because he’s multi-faceted. He’s a great facilitator. He can make every pass on the floor. He has the ability to be a two-way player and lock down the other team’s star, whether he’s a one, two, three or four man.

“And then this other thing which he’s developing is his offensive skill set. His jump shot is getting better – it will get there. But when he gets in the paint and finishes, he’s already one of the best. He’s 6-11, coming at you full speed, and there’s nothing you can do.”

Antetokounmpo was the choice in NBA.com’s annual survey of general managers as the league’s best international player and ranked second only to LeBron James in “versatility.” Plays of the sort described above are among the most exciting you’ll see on any given night in the Association, he’s good for one, two or more almost every time Milwaukee plays, and the native of Athens with the suspension-bridge wingspan still won’t turn 22 until Dec. 6.

Antetokounmpo charmed a group of international reporters from 14 countries Monday on a teleconference call set up by the NBA. But he already had taken time to talk with NBA.com over the weekend: