Giannis Antetokounmpo dominated the NBA finals by averaging 35.2 points, 13.2 rebounds and five assists per game.
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Giannis Antetokounmpo was crowned the NBA Finals MVP after leading the Milwaukee Bucks to their first championship since 1971 in a six-game series win over the Phoenix Suns. The 26-year-old forward became the youngest player to win Finals MVP since Kawhi Leonard in 2014. In his first Finals appearance, Antetokounmpo dominated by averaging 35.2 points, 13.2 rebounds and five assists per game.
“I never thought ever at 26 I’d be sitting in this chair.”
Giannis on winning his first championship. #NBAFinals pic.twitter.com/pjdWH2ljZJ
— NBA TV (@NBATV) July 21, 2021
Antetokounmpo hyperextended his left knee in the Eastern Conference finals against the Atlanta Hawks and missed the last two games of that series. He was initially listed as doubtful for Game 1 of the Finals, but fought his way back onto the court to play all six games. He wasn’t great in Game 1, scoring only 20 points in a loss, but he erased any doubt about his health with back-to-back 40-point performances in Games 2 and 3. Then, in Games 4 and 5, he gave the Bucks two of the most iconic performances in Finals history.
The Bucks led the Suns 101-99 with 1:15 remaining in the fourth quarter of Game 4. Antetokounmpo jumped out to defend Devin Booker off a dribble, so Booker threw a lob up to DeAndre Ayton that should have tied the game. Antetokounmpo wasn’t letting it happen. He turned around and blocked Ayton’s dunk attempt to preserve the lead and, eventually, the win.
GIANNIS CAME UP CLUTCH ?
A HUGE block when it mattered pic.twitter.com/ZbyMCj8L1s
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) July 15, 2021
Milwaukee needed another big play at the end of Game 5. Phoenix had trailed by 14 points, but cut the deficit to one. Devin Booker had a chance to take the lead with around 20 seconds remaining. He drove into traffic, but was stripped by Jrue Holiday. In a race up the court, Holiday hit Antetokounmpo with a lob pass. Antetokounmpo, being the physical freak that he is, caught it and slammed it down to cement Milwaukee’s victory.
JRUE STEAL. GIANNIS DUNK!!! pic.twitter.com/O0KhiXILBV
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) July 18, 2021
But Giannis saved his best for last. He scored an absolutely astonishing 50 points in the 105-98 Game 6 clincher to go along with 14 rebounds and five blocks. Perhaps most impressively, he made 17 of his 19 free throws after struggling at the line all postseason. It was one of the single greatest games in NBA history.
He could have become a free agent this offseason and left Milwaukee like so many stars before him had done in pursuit of a championship. Instead, he chose to remain with the Bucks on a five-year deal. The move paid off as he got to win the championship in front of the fans who have been cheering him on since Day 1.
After winning the Finals MVP, he 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. Wanted to do it with these guys, so I’m happy. I’m happy we were able to get it done.”
At the end, he gave a special shoutout to Khris Middleton for pushing him on the floor and convincing him to stay in Milwaukee.
“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.”
“This guy doesn’t really know how much he pushed me.”
Giannis shouts out Middleton after winning Finals MVP. #NBAFinals pic.twitter.com/zYZk8777Cq
— NBA TV (@NBATV) July 21, 2021
Middleton and Antetokounmpo have spent eight years together. They’ve grown from youngsters into Milwaukee legends together. Now, they’re champions together. Antetokounmpo couldn’t have done this without his favorite teammate.
