The battle to be named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player this season has turned into a two-man race, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic considered the heavy favorites to earn the honor. But two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo has been arguably just as productive this year as he was in the two seasons he won the award (2018-20), a fact that Bucks head coach Doc Rivers highlighted following Saturday’s victory over Indiana.
“It’s funny, I was talking to one of the better coaches in the league and he brought it up,” Rivers said, per Eric Nehm of The Athletic. “He said, ‘How the hell is no one talking about Giannis? He is doing different stuff. His assists keep going up. I mean, I don’t know what the guy has to do.'”
Across his two MVP seasons, Antetokounmpo averaged 28.5 points, 13.0 rebounds, 5.8 assists, and 1.3 blocks per game, with a 56.6% shooting percentage. Through 54 games this season, the star forward has put up 30.6 PPG, 12.1 RPG, 5.9 APG, and 1.2 BPG on 60.5% shooting.
“I’m not going to campaign (for him to be named MVP),” Rivers continued. “I’m not going to do that, but he is a forgotten guy with what he’s doing for our basketball team.”
Here’s more on the Bucks:
- The Pacers won four of five regular season games over Milwaukee a year ago, then knocked the Bucks out of the playoffs in the first round. The two teams currently hold the fourth and fifth spots in the East and could meet in the first round again this spring, so the Bucks recognized the importance of Saturday’s victory, which gave them the tiebreaker edge over Indiana, as well as a one-game lead in the standings. “Obviously, we wanted to get the tiebreaker,” Damian Lillard said, according to Nehm. “And a team that we’ve played so many times over the last two seasons, you know it’s going to be a physical game. It’s gonna be a competitive game … but we were able to pull it out, so that’s what really counts.”
- In a separate story for The Athletic, Nehm takes a look at how trade-deadline additions Kevin Porter and Jericho Sims are impacting the Bucks, writing that getting Porter’s ball-control issues in check is a priority. Entering Saturday’s game, the guard had committed multiple turnovers in nine consecutive games despite averaging just 15.6 minutes per night. “That’s non-negotiable,” Rivers said. “Especially late in the season, you just can’t turn the ball over. He knows that, but he’s still doing it right now. But we still want him to be aggressive.” Porter had 16 points and four assists with no turnovers in 19 minutes of action on Saturday.
- Of course, the Bucks’ biggest deadline addition was Kyle Kuzma. Jamal Collier of ESPN explores what Kuzma has brought to the team and why general manager Jon Horst believes that the forward’s versatility will make Antetokounmpo and Lillard more dangerous.
- As outlined in a report from The Associated Press, the Bucks are wearing patches on their jerseys for the rest of the season to honor Junior Bridgeman, the team’s minority owner and former player who died this past week.
The loss of Junior Bridgman affects so many current and former players in the league. He was a mentor to everyone he met, not just in Milwaukee. It’s a difficult loss to everyone around the league.
I’m a former big bucks fan from the early 80s. Loved those Nelly teams that didn’t quite get there but were exciting enough to have white knuckled TV playoff experiences.
I hope it’s OK to say this here, but what comes to mind for Junior Bridgeman dying so young and looking very healthy is the importance of getting checked out !!
How does a billionaire die of a heart attack while speaking on stage? You would think he would be up-to-date on all his blood tests, heart tests, etc.?
Not being critical of him, but just as a lesson to the rest of us. Everyone’s getting older and People die of heart attacks in their 40s and 50s too. And they say it’s 80% what you eat 20% exercise and all of that. Too many Wendy’s burgers? I don’t know.., eating healthy is tough but wow, we don’t want to see any of us or our loved ones go down early.., especially good ones.
Junior was such a Tremendous man of influence and generosity. Rest in peace !
The Milwaukee Bucks will be representing the Eastern Conference in the 2025 NBA Finals.
Not getting past the Celtics.
If we are talking “valuable”
OKC is still a top 4 team without SGA
DEN is not a playoff team without Joker
Think OKC would be more like 6th, but agree with your overall point. No debate that Jokic is better than Shai, more impactful, valuable, however u slice it.
But that’s never been the entirety of how MVP works. Voter fatigue exists. Jokic has won 3 of the last 4, he’s gotten his flowers, I have no issue with giving it to a guy who’s having a phenomenal season in his own right and is incredibly deserving.
MJ and LeBron would’ve won every year if it was based solely on best player.
“Voter fatigue exists” exactly. Harden and Westbrook were never even remotely more valuable than Curry ever was in the years they won MVP.
If Jokic were wearing a Los Angeles Laker or New York Knick jersey we would be talking about him being one of the 15 to 20 greatest players in the history of the game.
I disagree Davey. I think SGA is definitely MVP material but OKC are too SGA reliant.
If he goes down, I think the whole team goes down and comes back to earth. He does way too much for them and they don’t have a similar big dog replacement to do what he does.
Their defense is amazing and they have great wings but if he’s done, so are they.
I do agree with you on the Nuggets. The joker goes down and the Nuggets are really done. They’re nothing without him.
Gary, I think Chet is more important to winning games and might be a better overall player than SGA, but there isnt a big enough sample to prove it yet. What I’m going off right now is that Chet only has 3 games this year in the “-” on the +/- rating this season, SGA has 10 (in more games, but I really don’t think anyone is stopping Chet). Limited numbers, but Chet has been great almost every game.
Also with OKC being so deep, it stinks how the voters straight up refused to vote for Curry or KD when they were teammates, but now the most stacked team in the NBA gets all the MVP votes they want? Stinks.
Yes on Chet !!
Another 1st rd exit to indy coming up?
That’s a given for a team not worth talking about and the definition of pretty good /not great. In Fact they will never be great and have NEVER been great…
Unless in the last 70 years, you count the Mark Jackson Reggie Miller Dale Davis, Antonio Davis five year run. But they still did not make it to the NBA finals nor win a ring and always lost to the Knicks or the heat or whoever back then.
Sure would be nice to see a change and maybe draft a superstar who can carry them, but sitting at perpetual .500 doesn’t get you that guy very often. It’s possible see Kawhi Leonard 15th pick etc, just not probable.
Porter got talent. Just hasn’t grown up yet. May never. Sims looks like he’s giving good mins. Happy for him. Another big Thibs helped develop.
For me the MVP race is…
1/ Jokic
2/ Giannis
3/ Shai
No way anyone can disregard Giannis great season, that’s for sure!