History-making performance cements Giannis Antetokounmpo in the annals of NBA’s best.
Mission accomplished! “Greek Freak” Giannis Antetokounmpo. Deer District, and the Milwaukee Bucks are NBA Champions for the first time since 1971. Antetokounmpo capped off an incredible postseason with a 50-point performance to lead the Bucks to a 105-98 victory over the Phoenix Suns in Game 6 of the 2021 NBA Finals.
Antetokounmpo was unstoppable at both ends of the floor, delivering one of the most extraordinary single-game playoff performances in NBA history. Though Game 6 was a great back-and-forth affair, Antetokounmpo sustained his play even when the Bucks faltered. A 20-point third quarter enabled the Bucks to regain momentum. For the night–along with hitting the half-century mark in points–“The Freak” had 14 rebounds, five blocks, and went 17 of 19 from the charity stripe. Wow!
How good was that? For the game, Antetokounmpo became the first player in two decades to register at least a 40-point, 10-rebound, and 5-block average stat line (Shaquille O’Neal was the last in 2001). And for the series, “The Freak” averaged a phenomenal 35.2 points, 13.2 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.8 blocks, and 1.1 steals.
Antetokounmpo’s other-worldly performance cemented him as the obvious choice for the NBA Finals Playoff MVP. Nobody will be questioning that decision!
Let’s remember that Antetokounmpo signed a supermax extension with the Bucks rather than leave Milwaukee to join a ‘super team’ as other NBA stars have done. That call paid off with championship gold. And, now, at 26 years of age, Antetokounmpo is the third player in league history to rack up an NBA title, the MVP (twice), Defensive Player of the Year, and an NBA Finals MVP.
The name A-N-T-E-T-O-K-O-U-N-M-P-O is here to stay! It’s a family affair, too. He and his brother, Thanasis, join brother Kostas as a trio of NBA champs (Kostas won the title last season with the LA Lakers),
Get comfortable, Bucks fans! “The Greek Freak” era is just beginning!
