Despite the Bucks early playoff exit, the NBA has announced that Milwaukee’s superstar will receive MVP honours.
Giannis Antetokounmpo wins his second Most Valuable Player Award, after another historic season, the NBA announced Friday morning. Earlier this month, Antetokounmpo also won the leagues Defensive Player of The Year award, making him the only active NBA player to receive both MVP and DPOY honours in the same season. Antetokounmpo joins Michael Jordan and Hakeem Olajuwon as the only players in NBA history to win DPOY and MVP honours in the same season. At the ripe age of 25, Antetokounmpo now joins an elite company becoming the 13th player in NBA history to have won back-to-back MVPs. The last player to win back-to-back MVP honours was Golden State’s Stephen Curry back in 2015 and 2016.
“He was the reigning league MVP and he came out to prove that he was worthy of the award. He averaged 29 and 13 in the regular season, and the Bucks were the #1 seed in the league. ”
The Greek Freak
This season Antetokounmpo averaged career-high numbers in points (29.5) and rebounds (13.6) while leading the charge for the Bucks with as they posted the leagues best regular-season record (56-17). Despite being favoured as a title contender, The Milwaukee Bucks took an early playoff exit falling the Miami Heat in the second round. Given the unique circumstance of this season, the NBA announced the MVP Award later than expected, which drew up several controversial debates on whether Antetokounmpo should have received the award over the LA Laker’s LeBron James. Throughout the bubble James and the Lakers have been on fire, but in this case the stellar performance of Antetokounmpo this season takes the front page of the MVP race.
Future For Giannis?
The MVP Award selection process goes through an evaluation from a global panel of sportswriters, media personnel, and broadcasters. According to the NBA sources, Antetokounmpo received 85 first-place votes, while LeBron James only received 16 first-place votes. Houston’s James Harden finished 3rd in the MVP race, followed by Luka Doncic at #4, and Kawhi Leonard at #5. Although Antetokounmpo was unable to deliver a championship title to the Bucks this season, he will enter the last year of his contract before reaching free agency in 2021. The Bucks can offer Antetokounmpo a contract extension this off-season which can include a potential super-max deal. Coach Budenholzer will be returning to the Bucks next season and intends on having his franchise player back.
“As long as everybody’s fighting for the same thing.. which is to be a champion, I don’t see why not to be in Milwaukee for the next 15 years.”
Will the 25-year old phenom stay in Milwaukee entering the last year of his contract? or will Antetokounmpo tests the waters of free agency for the 2021-2022 season. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, The Bucks intend on offering Antetokounmpo the supermax deal worth between $220-$250 million over five-years. The Bucks front office has planned to provide a championship supporting cast around Antetokounmpo for next season.
BACK-TO-BACK
Antetokounmpo is entering the last year of his contract.
Antetokounmpo is very optimistic about his future in Milwaukee and has strongly expressed the importance of winning a championship. Some say before the NBA break, the Bucks were the front runners to win a championship now let’s see if their ball club can capitalize on off-season acquisitions. As for Antetokounmpo, the sky is the limit, at 25 years of age, he is the future face of the NBA.