[Sport] Giannis Antetokounmpo wins NBA Finals MVP, dubbed 'new king of the NBA'

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https://www.foxnews.com/sports/giannis-antetokounmpo-nba-finals-mvp

 

 

 

 

Giannis Antetokounmpo was awarded the NBA Finals MVP for his performance in the Milwaukee Bucks ’run to their first championship in 50 years. The "Greek Freak’s" performance in Game 6 lifted the Bucks over the Phoenix Suns. He scored 50 points, grabbed 14 rebounds, recorded five blocks and dished out two assists in the win. He is the first player since Shaquille O'Neal to record 40 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks in any playoff game, according to ESPN Stats & Info. O'Neal did it in 2001.

 

He's also the first player to have a 50- 10-5 stat line since blocks were first tracked in the 1973-74 season. His prowess through the NBA Finals had some crowning him the "new king of the NBA." Antetokounmpo’s run with the Bucks really started at the end of last year. He and the Bucks were eliminated from the playoffs in the conference semifinals and questioned swirled over whether he would sign an extension with Milwaukee to keep him on the team for years to come. In December, I signed a five-year, $ 228.2 million contract extension and jumpstarted his pursuit of a title.

 

He helped the Bucks to 46 wins in the 2020-21 season. He was an All-Star for the fifth consecutive time and took the underrated Milwaukee team through the playoffs and over some of the best teams in the league.

 

The Bucks defeated the Miami Heat, Brooklyn Nets and Atlanta Hawks before beating the Suns. Antetokounmpo was thought to have suffered a serious knee injury against the Hawks in the Eastern Conference Finals. He missed the final two games of that series and was able to play in the NBA Finals and not only guide the team to a title, but win the Finals MVP. Antetokounmpo can now call himself a five-time All-Star, two-time MVP and most importantly and NBA champion.

 

The setting was appropriate. Antetokounmpo could have become a free agent this offseason and left Milwaukee like so many stars before him had done to their own small markets in pursuit of a championship. Instead, he chose to remain with the Bucks on a five-year deal, and the move paid off as he got to win the title he craved in front of the fans who have been cheering him on since Day 1. When he won the award , I have started his speech by giving those fans credit. "I want to thank Milwaukee for believing in me," he said. "My teammates, man, they played hard every freaking game. I trusted this team. I wanted to do it here in this city. I wanted to do it with these guys, so I'm happy. I'm happy we were able to get it done. " He then went on to thank one teammate in particular, and it was the one he's been with the longest: Khris Middleton.

 

"Khris, we did it, man," he said. "I'm happy, I'm happy, man. This guy doesn't really know how hard he pushed me. He pushed me every day to be great. He pushes me every day to be great man. I'm happy I can step on the floor with this guy and play every single minute with this guy, and the rest of the guys, but Khris especially. "

 

Middleton and Antetokounmpo have spent eight years together. They've grown from unheralded youngsters into Milwaukee legends together. Now, they're champions together. Antetokounmpo couldn't have done this without his favorite teammate, and with Middleton's help, he became the 2021 Finals MVP.