While Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid may end up as the top two finishers in MVP voting this season for the third consecutive year, Bucks general manager Jon Horst wants to make sure voters don’t overlook two-time winner Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Speaking to Jim Owczarski of The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Horst expressed a belief that Antetokounmpo is suffering from “greatness fatigue,” with voters getting accustomed to the eye-popping numbers that the star forward is putting up. Antetokounmpo is averaging a career-best 31.5 points per game in 53 games this season to go along with 11.9 rebounds and 5.5 assists per night while playing at an All-Defensive level. At 49-19, the Bucks have the NBA’s best record.
“He’s also doing this playing less minutes than anybody, which is remarkable. That’s a sacrifice,” Horst said of Giannis, who is averaging just 32.5 minutes per contest. “That’s an intentional sacrifice by him to give our team the best chance to have the deepest playoff success possible.
“That’s not an easy thing. That’s something that he does so he’s ready to perform at the biggest moments. Give the guy 36, 37, 38 minutes a game, there’s not even a conversation. Obviously you can see I’m very strong (on this) and I believe it.”
Here’s more on the Bucks:
- In his conversation with Owczarski, Horst also made cases for Bobby Portis as the Sixth Man of the Year and Brook Lopez as the Defensive Player of the Year. “He contests more shots than anybody,” the Bucks’ GM said of Lopez. “His blocks are league-leading. He does it without fouling. … The guy is absolutely deserving of an award this year. I think it all matters. The reason that I think this team has been really good even though we’ve had a lot of other moving parts has been his consistency. He’s an anchor for us and he plays every night. And he’s gotten better. This guy is having a career year. It’s incredible.”
- A panel of writers at The Athletic – David Aldridge, James L. Edwards III, and Josh Robbins – debated the current Defensive Player of the Year frontrunners and all submitted hypothetical three-man ballots that included two Bucks players. Edwards has Lopez first and Antetokounmpo second in his DPOY rankings, while Aldridge placed Lopez and Giannis second and third and Robbins had Lopez and Holiday as his two runners-up (both Aldridge and Robbins made Grizzlies big man Jaren Jackson Jr. their current DPOY pick).
- Antetokounmpo and Lopez were among the players involved in a scuffle during the final seconds of the Bucks’ win over the Kings on Monday night. As Marc J. Spears of ESPN writes, Kings forward Trey Lyles took exception to Giannis dribbling the ball toward him while running out the clock and tried to steal it before shoving Antetokounmpo, resulting in a brief on-court skirmish between the two teams (Twitter video link via Bleacher Report). Lopez and Lyles were both ejected and will likely face additional discipline in the form of fines, if not suspensions. “Giannis could just dribble the ball out,” Kings guard De’Aaron Fox said after the game. “That’s all he had to do, and nothing would have happened.”
Gino absolutely deserves a look. He is a monster and Bucks look like best team in the NBA right now.
Is he a dirty player and did he bait Lyles into shoving him last night? Yes. But he still is an excellent basketball player.
Dirty? Hell no
Uh yeah it’s well documented. Everyone thinks he is so cute and self-aware in interviews, but when he pulls dirty play on the court it’s “not his fault.” Can’t have it both ways, I’m afraid.
Giannis involved in a skirmish? i watched it live and he was pushed first then backed off completely. That’s when Lopez came in to defend his player. A bit disingenuous reporting, doncha think?
I’m inclined to agree with Fox that if Giannis had just dribbled to an open space, nothing would have happened, so I’d say he’s “involved” as an instigator even if he didn’t participate in the escalation.
Giannis dribbled the ball into Lyles. He walked right into him.
Have to say that I am pleasantly surprised how well Lopez has played this year. An older big man coming off back surgery usually isn’t a good combination
The “ fatigue” is the NBA refs letting him get away with everything and then calling everything for him when another is 2 feet away. Him and BRON BRON are the worst example. Head down run straight into the paint into another player and they get the call. Nobody can deny the talent but they get calls 99% of what others do. It is like the rules are for everyone but those 2.
Lyles threw the first punch and then attempted to choke Lopez with his hands around his neck for a good 5 seconds. That warrants a suspension. Lopez got in Lyles’ grill in defense of his teammate, but on no planet is that equivalent to what Lyles did. The punishment needs to reflect that.