The Bucks closed out the Suns on Tuesday night, winning the 2021 NBA Finals by a 4-2 margin and earning the franchise’s first championship in 50 years. Milwaukee last won a title in 1971, led by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and hadn’t earned a spot in the Finals since 1974 before this year.
Two-time Most Valuable Player Giannis Antetokounmpo led the way for the Bucks, improbably earning NBA Finals MVP honors in a unanimous vote just three weeks after suffering what initially looked like it might be a season-ending knee injury.
Antetokounmpo’s knee hyperextension caused him to miss the last two games of the Eastern Conference Finals against Atlanta, but Milwaukee advanced to the Finals without him and he was able to get back on the court for Game 1 vs. Phoenix. The 26-year-old subsequently showed no ill effects from the injury, averaging an incredible 35.2 points, 13.2 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game on 61.8% shooting in the six-game series.
Antetokounmpo’s performance on Tuesday was especially remarkable, as he became the first player in postseason history to register at least 50 points, 10 rebounds, and five blocks in a single game, per Justin Kubatko (Twitter link). Giannis’ 50 points tied the record for most points in an NBA Finals closeout game, according to ESPN Stats and Info (Twitter link).
Antetokounmpo becomes the third player in NBA history to win an MVP award, a Finals MVP award, and a Defensive Player of the Year award over the course of his career, joining Michael Jordan and Hakeem Olajuwon.
The Bucks’ championship victory is especially meaningful not just for Antetokounmpo but also for head coach Mike Budenholzer, whose job would have been in jeopardy if Milwaukee had been eliminated earlier in the playoffs, and for general manager Jon Horst, who took a big swing by giving up several first-round picks and swaps for Jrue Holiday during the 2020 offseason.
Although Holiday’s offensive production was up and down during the series, his defense on Suns guards Chris Paul and Devin Booker was a crucial part of the Bucks’ success and ensured that Horst’s gamble paid off.
While the Bucks will have some roster issues to address in free agency, especially if Bobby Portis and Bryn Forbes opt out, the team has its entire starting lineup under contract for next season, with Antetokounmpo, Holiday, and Khris Middleton all locked up for multiple years. The Suns will be in a similar position if Paul returns to Phoenix.
The NBA offseason is now officially underway.
It was fitting how they just showed one of Chris Paul’s State Farm commercials after his team lost.
I saw that too and had a chuckle
Respect for making this article about the NBA Champions and giving them the credit they earned.
Giannis joined some elite company with MJ and Olajuwon. And he’s #34 just like Hakeem!
Yup. Also that performance will go down as one of the greatest Finals performances of all time.
I said to myself “The second any of these idiots brings up Lebron I’m muting this” – took like 5 minutes smh
The wildest thing was when all these ex-players/insiders admitted it was basically a coin flip of Giannis being traded to GSW or staying with Milwaukee, because on one hand, he wanted to play with and win titles with the guy he gets treated the most like, Steph Curry, but on the other hand, staying on the same team is the thing Steph Curry would do.
Hats off to Giannis, hats off to his supporting cast, no hats off to Bud the worst coach in the NBA and extra big no hats off to the NBA in general (Rachel Nichols STILL votes for FMVP after admitting she runs her votes by Bron? That’s literally what “corruption” and “unethical” means), its media (klutch) and its dumb twitter influence all need to be wayy, way better, because right now its borderline dispicable how the press acts and who gets to be press needs to be regularly vetted way more than it is.
1. Steph 2. Giannis 3. KD 4. Kawhi 5. Luka thats your top 5 best most exciting most valuable players in the NBA as of July 21, 2021.
You complain about them bringing up LeBron yet you find a way to bring up Steph and the Warriors on virtually every post on this site, even if completely unrelated.
Hate to tell you but watching Steph shoot 3s all game isn’t the most exciting NBA action dude. And Steph isn’t the greatest PG. Don’t bother with trying to diss a Knicks or Cavs player. None of them are in Curry’s league but that’s not the point anyway. Can’t you just congratulate the Bucks and keep it moving?
Steph slashing for layups is better than anyone in history and yes, bombing 3’s is way more entertaining than midranges – we literally just saw how far being midrange gets you. Nice try.
Ohhh yeahhhhhh…. lay ups and 3pt shots. I can get that all day watching the WNBA. Stop it. Curry is an all-time great but I’d rather watch at least 10 other players if I wanted exciting athleticism. That’s not to say Curry isn’t incredible but to say 30 ft jump shots and layups is better than all than what Giannis, LBJ, Westbrook or even Kyrie is crazy.
No, your relentless hating of Curry is way more “Crazy” than anything I have said. Kyrie is 100% not more entertaining or a better player than Steph – Stephs handle is straight up better than Kyries, period. Stop lying.
Giannis was never going to the warriors. He made it clear that he was always staying on the Bucks. Stop thinking every player wants to leave their team. Lillard, Leonard, Beal, and ect… Will most likely end up with their same team. Insiders and ex-players say things to get their names in the papers.
Oh so Leandro Barbosa’s word > yours? Nope.
Barbosa was wrong? YES I didn’t see Giannis in a GSW uniform.
Did I miss CP3 crying?
Is there video of this?
No you didn’t. He did it the whole series.
Almost as bad as booker, guy was garbage and showed he can’t lead a team. Kobe > booker all day
Kobe didn’t even make it to the finals his first time in the playoffs…book did
Umm, of course Kobe is better than Booker. Derp.
This is one of the dumbest posts on this site. Who the heck is actually saying Booker was better??
By far the best result of this year is adding another “CP3 blew a 2+ game lead” and he stays chipless. He is by far the most overrated, stat chasing, ballhog the game has ever seen and his hall monitor act (that goes back way longer than the bubble) just is the worst. That shot at Giannis was so wild he didn’t get T’d, ejected and suspended for, the NBA refs were also straight up making that game a game of WWE+NBA lol what sport was that even???
CP got the numbers, but he doesn’t know how to win a title playing like this and he will never change because ego and stupidity walk hand in hand.
Stat chasing? What garbage. He doesn’t look for his own shot before others. What’s greater… your man crush for Curry or hate for Paul?
Your hate for curry >>>> any of my own biases
Just look at whats going on today: S-Jax saying MIL was a superteam, flat out nonsense. If any player (Steph, Kawhi, Giannis) eats during Lebron’s active time as a player, all you will ever hear is about how its “not a real” title or how there were injuries or things that are called “excuses” if any other human says them.
I don’t hate Curry. He’s the greatest pure shooter. But being a point guard has a lot more to do with than shooting. I mean Stockton ranks 1st in assists and steals. Curry isn’t even top 60 in either category yet. Stockton, Magic, Nash and Kidd have each had multiple years of leading league in assists. Curry hasn’t done that once despite having teams with Klay, KD and Iggy. As great as he as a shooter he isn’t better than others when n it comes to the main duties of a PG.
Assists? Are you insane? Explain how you understand he’s the best shooter in the history of the game, yet you also want him to get assists, like all the terrible shooting PGs you mentioned had to do because they werent changing the game with their shooting like Steph did????
“Hey best shooter, how about you pass some more!” – this is why your username makes sense – all you know is how to lose at basketball
Congratulations to the smallest town in the nba !!!
Congra to Giannis！
Milwaukee is not the smallest town in the nba. They are like the 5th smallest
congratulations to the city of Milwaukee, the state of Wisconsin, Giannis and the entire team and fanbase. I wanted to see a game 7 but I’m soooo glad Giannis’ 50 pt effort wasn’t wasted in a loss.
To Chris Paul…. tough series but you’re still one of the all-time great point guards. Hold your heap up fam.
Thanks for the kind words KnicksFan
CP3 is definitely in the top 10 point guards all-time, I agree.
What we do not EVER do, is compare him with Curry. Curry ascends to greatness never before seen, CP3 assaults Giannis while dunking. Steph blew one 3-1 lead, CP3 has blown SIX 2-0 or 3-1 leads. They are not even close and never ever will be. Steph is #1 PG all time CP3 like 7th or 8th lol
Been a long time! Became a pro basketball and Bucks fan in 1976 although John Havlicek was my favorite player. Never got over the hump with Moncrief and company nor with Allen, Big Dog and the rest. So very happy for the state of Wisconsin and Bucks fans everywhere. Now I just need the Brewers to win the WS to experience the Pro sports trifecta.
Congratulations Buckman. You always come in here and post respectfully even when presented with a counter opinion. Tip of the cap to you and the Bucks.
Wow that Jrue Holiday trade sure paid off. I think he was a key player in the series and obviously a key acquisition. PJ Tucker as well. Goes to show with Middleton and Giannis you need another star and that being Holiday. Another factor is coach budenholzer adjusting after the first couple games and putting Holliday defensively on Booker. It was all success after that. Nice job Milwaukee Bucks as a whole.
How many teams like MIA were weaker because GA waited till FA was almost over to sign his deal. All the teams waiting for him lost out to save cap space for Oubre et all now.
Very clever by GA & MIL!
TOR & MIA are rivals.
The loss of 4 firsts will be felt, but they should be able to get FAs.
GA was amazing, an NBA finals highlight.
He was signed for this year already. He wouldn’t have been a free agent till the following year.
Shoutout to you, Buckman, welcome to the club! I remember exactly what you are feeling now, back in 2015. I was shaking for hours after, it’s still the most unbelievable to me that I followed the worst team for 25 years and FINALLY got that payoff! Feels unlike anything you ever have felt, right? Congrats to Milwaukee, I respect the team and now their (IRL) fans, because they showed out louder than anywhere since the 2019 Finals. AND CP3 stays chipless, this really was the best possible result for everyone!
And now Chris Paul new contract will be 4 year $120 million or
Opt in and 3 more year $85 million extension
45+85=120
Just my prediction
teams would be on cr@ck to give him that contract. they’re better off going after Lowry. CP3 will regress next season cause of his age
CP3 and Lowry are the same age lmao
FEAR THE DEER!!!
Happy for everyone involved, the MIL Org, players, fans. Up and down great job, trades, signings, execution, effort.
Also glad to see Giannis rewarded for his faith and resigning before the season. Nice to see a player win on the team that drafted him, especially in a smaller market. Hopefully more players follow suit.
Congrats to the Bucks!
It was great being around this team for preseason a few months back. No hard feelings after being cut. Congrats, Milwaukee!
Hang in there and keep working! Giannis isn’t the best shooter on the floor, nor the best ball handler, but he works hard to get better every game. Dedication and effort pays off.
The refs weren’t calling many fouls. Despite Chris Paul’s temper tantrums, Phoenix didn’t adjust. Superior coaching by budenholzer. It was a brilliant performance by giannis: 17/18 free throws, 5 momentous blocked shots
can we just call giannis zeus now already!
Giannis even got his free throw shooting going in these finals. Had a game where he went 13-17 and this tonight 17-19.
Huge. All the work and ignoring the ridicule has paid off.
After CP3 said “even Giannis knows he’s going to miss” Giannis called Steph Curry.
The rest is history…
Bucks the rightful and deserving champion but also to show how precarious these things can be ! Bucks where a Kevin Durant foot misplacement away from being knocked out rd 1
Kaminsky should have been put on GA from the outset. Ayton wore down. Suns were beaten inside but should resist drafting for a center… Need a 4 if possible. If they don’t return Paul, they will have the overhead 4 double Cam! Suns pun
Way to go MIDWEST!
Congrats giannis antetokoumpo and bucks!!
Bad officiating. Gave series to Milwaukee. Let G get away with whatever he wanted with fouls that should have been on him. Boy how different if G had been done for season.
WSnot you obviously biased because Booker got away with a lot. A whole lot.
Wsnot u mean like when Booker full on hugged JH in game 4 and should’ve fouled out. Or when Booker fell down last night and they called a foul on Portis? Bucks won in spite of the refs. Obviously the refs wanted a game 7.
that’s a hot take: you suppose this series would have been different if Giannis was out with a knee injury?
How different would it have been, do you suppose?
And also, when has there been a playoff game without any suspicion that officiating failed to be at the standard of excellence expected? Perhaps everyone needs to change expectation that there won’t be dubious calls.
Congratulations to the Bucks a complete team on both ends of the court. CP3 welcome to Hollywood. Everyone knows your heading to join LBJ to get a ring the easy way. Giannis did get lucky due to KD shoe size and injuries to other teams but who cares your a champion. Now go repeat in to show the world this year was no fluke.
Cp3 should have been arrested for assault, what in the world of hurtedness is this lol
I saw fouls on both sides not being called. a lot of push offs by Booker and Paul was not called. You sound like Rocket fans that complained every time they lost in the playoffs.
@wsanotastros Haha….”what if G had been done for season”. Well duhhh. Take away ANY teams best player and things would be different. But most of the Suns top players were heathy sooooo.
There are 2 stories that get written about refs in the finals: they let them play or they called it too tight and superstar X was in foul trouble/fouled out and so the refs “decided” the game. Both lead to grievances by fans/players/coaches of both teams especially the losers.
Additionally, the NBA will need to penalize flopping as it is starting to look like a European soccer match on the court with all of the exaggerated falls and whiplash head snaps.
Yes, PLEASE do anything to make CP3 retire!!!
I saw a lot of push offs by cp3 and Booker not called so they have nothing to complain about.
What you need to realize is a lot of these guys look to pursue careers beyond the NBA. After all, you can only play in the league for so long.
Look at the cast of Space Jam. Clearly some of these guys need to work on their acting muscles, and when else are they supposed to do it? Where better than on stage/national television in front of thousands of people?
Acting definitely has a place in today’s NBA. Pretending it doesn’t or that it should be penalized is ignorant and shows you care more about the product than the players, the PEOPLE that make this sport what it is.
smdh
Congrats to the Bucks. Condolences to the Suns and CP3.
Really, you can pin this on the underperformance of Bridges in game 3, 4, 5, and 6. He is clearly key to their success this postseason. He is young tho, up and coming but if he gave them more in those 4 games, the Suns hoist the trophy. Booker had some so so games too. More turnovers than usual. You have to give credit to the Bucks defense. They disrupted the Suns flow.
It will be difficult for them to get back to the WCF. The assumption is the West won’t be as banged up next year. Suns made it to the finals without a major injury and then Saric went down, but he’s a role player not a Kawhi, Murray, AD.
Bucks repeat will depend on Giannis, curious if he’s going to need any surgery or if he’s going to be 100% at the start. He either pulled the 2nd biggest rope-a-dope in the history of sports, or one of the grittiest performances. Gotta give credit to his conditioning and work ethic.
Giannis has finally arrived. Best he’s ever played. Everything he did had a purpose. His decision making was best ever for him. I guess it tells us how tuned in he was. I liked Suns going to Ayton in the beginning. But Bucks just played good D. Gotta give them credit. Bucks didn’t look good against Nets. Never thought they had it in them. But they just got better. And never really went down. Always came back after losses. Bucks used all their key players thru all series. So it was a true team win. Giannis just stepped it up and led the way. He had a great series both ways. One of best Finals performances ever. MVP
Congratulations to Bucks ….
Stopped being a believer. Bucks never stopped
All the clowns here who think. The conversation should be about everything else. Go get therapy. They will help with getting Currys shorts out your throats. And CP3 out your dreams. This was one of most competitive 6 gms and all we got is personal issues. Ask yourself why do you respond to this inability to respect the game.
This is true, the Bucks used all the resources they had… better than the Suns anyway.
Agree p-baller, Mikal was not used enough. Maybe he is too young to assert himself as well as Middleton did. To be fair it did seem that Booker and Paul were getting their shots.
Middleton did not even need to take over the last game at the end even though he seemed able to.
It was historic for GA. Glad he got 50 not 49, for all the fans of graphics.