Giannis Antetokounmpo just secured the first NBA Championship and Finals MVP of his career. Doing so makes him just the THIRD player in NBA history to win a Most Valuable Player, Defensive Player of the Year, and FMVP joining Michael Jordan and Hakeem Olajuwon. He’s also only the 2nd player with multiple MVPs, a DPOY and FMVP. Lastly, he became the only player to win Most Improved Player, MVP, DPOY and FMVP. At just 26 years old, he has already accomplished so much more than most could ever dream of. There’s no better feeling for a player than winning a championship and doing so with the team that drafted you just makes it so much more sweet.
Watching Antetokounmpo during these NBA Finals was reminiscent of a player from the early 2000s in Shaquille O’Neal. He became the first player since O’Neal to average 30 points while shooting 60% from the field in the first 4 games of a Finals. Both players dominated the paint but in different ways. O’Neal spent most of his time in the post or catching alley oops from his guards. Antetokounmpo is beating players off the dribble, bullying them in the post, catching alley oops and even knocking down the occasional mid range jumper.
Antetokounmpo’s performance is even more impressive when you consider the fact that just a little over two weeks ago, many feared that he wouldn’t play again in the playoffs when he hyperextended his knee. He averaged 35.2 PPG, 13.2 RPG, 5 APG and 1.8 BPG while shooting 61.8%(!!!) from the field. In my eyes, this is undoubtedly one of the best performances in NBA Finals history.
Game 6 was another record breaking performance from Antetokounmpo. He became the first player in NBA history to record 50 points, 10 or more rebounds and 5 blocks. He also became just the 7th player to score 50 points in an NBA Finals game. It’s extremely fitting that he scored 50 points to lead the Bucks to their first championship in 50 years.
When Giannis Antetokounmpo signed his contract extension last December, he stated that he wanted to have fun and win over the next five years, and just one year in, he accomplished more than most of us would’ve thought. In 2014, Antetokounmpo tweeted “I’ll never leave the team and the city of Milwaukee till we build the team to a championship level team”. He believed in himself, in his teammates and expected the fans to do the same. He didn’t run from the grind, he stayed true to the team that believed in him when he was the scrawny 6’9 19 year old kid and delivered on his promises.
In 2017, the late, great Kobe Bryant challenged Antetokounmpo to win an NBA MVP and as we know, he would go on to win just two years later . Shortly after his first MVP, Bryant challenged Antetokounmpo to win an NBA championship. Once again, Giannis took on the challenge and two years later, completed it.
He has solidified his status as an all time great, now he can only boost his legacy with anything he does going forward. His journey to the top is just beginning and we’re all here to witness it.
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