Giannis Antetokounmpo is no longer a teenager, entering his 20s on Dec. 6. Three days later, in Oklahoma City, he played in his 100th career game in the NBA. And, based on his current average of 12.2 points per game, he’ll score his 1,000th career point on Jan. 10 in Chicago.

While those are not significant basketball milestones, at least not in the context of long tenured veterans or All-Star caliber players, it’s safe to say the second-year Milwaukee Bucks player is growing up, and becoming more experienced with the passing of each minute of every practice and every game.

He knows it. All of it.

"You know what? I know I still have a lot to learn," Antetokounmpo said. "I’ve never done anything. The only thing that I have showed is that I’m getting better, you know?"

Those who can only watch games see it.

Antetokounmpo has nearly doubled his average free throw attempts per game from last year (1.8 to 3.1), has increased his free throw percentage (72.6 percent, up from 68.3), has increased his two-point shooting by six full percentage points, and his overall field goal percentage from 41.4 percent to 48.7.

"It’s just the process of making some shots," Bucks head coach Jason Kidd said. "You’re gonna miss some free throws, but you gotta be in that situation, and for him, he’s one of those guys who does get to the free throw line. So, he’s learning how to play without having to score the ball, say shooting 3s or shooting jump shots. You can live at the free throw line. That’s what — when you look at the top players in this league, that’s what they do."

Last year, the teenage rookie either went to the rim (199 attempts) or lofted up 3-pointers (118 attempts) — and his attempts at anything in between were often poorly executed (18 for 101, 17.8 percent).

So far this year, Antetokounmpo has only attempted 15 shots from beyond the arc and has gone to the rim 133 times. And, he’s been more effective doing so, converting 66.7 percent of those close attempts compared to just 57.3 last year.

That has contributed to his 12.2 point per game average, and he has a Player Efficiency Rating (PER) of 16.0, which is not only above league average but well above the 10.8 he operated at last year.

"I’m learning a lot, a lot of new things, especially on the defensive end," Antetokounmpo said. "I’m just trying to keep learning. I feel more comfortable, more ready, more NBA ready. I know that i have a long way to go. I still have a lot of potential that I have to build up, and i just want to keep working and hopefully day by day, game by game, and season by season I get more comfortable and I’ll play better."

Antetokounmpo’s game beyond the rim still isn’t good — he’s just 22 for 84, or 26.2 percent — but at least it’s improved.

"We’re trying to get him to be comfortable with his shot," said Kidd, who noted the team has not tried to alter Antetokounmpo’s shot process. "A lot of times people want to change shots, develop a shot. We want to find out what his shot is and go from there."

That we can see.

But there’s so much more to his growth.

"Things, like (what) people can’t see," he said, leaning against the wall of the Cousins Center, a Bucks "ugly" holiday sweater draped over his shoulder.

Little things.

Like just being able to communicate to his teammates to help on defense, or even knowing where to be, and when, within an offensive set.

And especially, knowing where to be on defense.

Important things.

"Things you guys cannot see on the court, but things my coach can see," Antetokounmpo said. "Last year I didn’t know the terminology. Things like that. I’m getting better this year. I’m learning a lot of things on the defensive end this summer and I’m trying to keep playing the defense end so I can get better because I know that the sky’s the limit.

"It’s up to me. If I come here and practice hard, I’ll get better. If I don’t, I’m not going to get better."

Kidd knew there was an athlete in the teenager when he got his first up-close look at him during the Las Vegas summer league. It was where Kidd tried him out at point guard, which he experimented with a little more in the preseason.

He’s seen the growth, too.

Thus far, Kidd hasn’t force-fed Antetokounmpo, although he’s averaging about two and a half more minutes per game this year than last. His 27.0 minutes per game is third on the team, but one of seven players averaging 20 or more.

"You look at the process of the stars in this league, it takes them time.," Kidd said.

"Everybody wants to look at him now, but also we’re trying to look at the future of where he can be."

Antetokounmpo is working every day to get there as soon as he can. He knows he’s getting better — and the reinforcement from Kidd and the coaching staff not only encourages but motivates him.

"So, I try to listen to that and motivate myself to work harder so I can tell them, look, I’m here, I can still go more, I can still improve more," he said. "That’s what I’m trying to do."