News

Figuring Out Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Legacy After Back-To-Back MVP’s

Stephen Curry, LeBron James, Steve Nash, Tim Duncan, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Moses Malone, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bill Russell. How about this one: Hakeem Olajuwon, Jordan and Antetokounmpo. With his second MVP win being announced on Thursday, the Milwaukee Bucks star joins both of those illustrious lists. The first are the only players to win back-to-back MVP’s and the second are the only players to win MVP and DPOY in the same season. That’s not elite company, those are the all-time greats.

But, there is only one downer, the Bucks are out of the playoffs after a gentleman’s sweep via the Miami Heat. This year and last year’s playoffs have had people calling into question whether or not Giannis can be the same kind of dominant force in the playoffs, with his struggling late in tight games where the best defenses in the league can really key in on him. I find this ridiculous simply because the narrative around great players is almost always the same, they can’t win or get it done when it counts – until they do.

Take Jordan’s ’88 season where he achieved the MVP+DPOY feat. His Bulls team got ousted by a superior Piston’s team that went on to win the finals. The same goes for LeBron. His most famous postseason flameouts in Cleveland are ’09 and ’10. It seems that with great players like the LeBron’s and Jordan’s they always need a great sidekick to help ease the load and, no offense to Khris Middleton, the Bucks’ simply don’t have that.

Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter!

A week of sports news in your in-box.
We find the sports news you need to know, so you don't have to.

While this is encouraging for Giannis and his development, rumors are circulating about his leaving the Bucks in 2021 to find greener pastures which would be eerily similar to what LeBron did, joining the Heat in 2010.

Nico Ribadeneyra

Recent Posts

Paul George Exits With Knee Injury As 76ers Fall To 2-12 In Loss To Grizzlies

With their big three finally back in action Wednesday, the Philadelphia 76ers suffered another setback…

10 hours ago

VIDEO: Nike Pays Tribute to Rafael Nadal With 30-Foot Projection In Front of Eiffel Tower

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/tny--EWynOQ Nike paid tribute to Spanish tennis legend Rafael Nadal with a 10-meter-tall animated display…

1 day ago

VIDEO: Rafael Nadal Gets Emotional Tribute as He Retires From Tennis

https://youtu.be/dtJoJz9hC48 Tennis legend Rafael Nadal bid a heartfelt goodbye to his devoted Spanish fans as he brought…

1 day ago

VIDEO EXCLUSIVE: U.S. Olympic Fencer Eli Dershwitz Explains The Art Of Fencing

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/DQ9Rxhnuer4 U.S. Olympic fencer Eli Dershwitz shed light on the critical skills necessary in fencing…

2 days ago

Two Bears Offensive Linemen Return To Practice, Caleb Williams Desperate For Blocking

Two offensive linemen for the Chicago Bears returned to practice, a massive step in the…

3 days ago

VIDEO: UFC Heavyweight Champion Performs Viral Trump Dance In New York

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/s2g9t_33Myw President-elect Donald Trump received a warm welcome from Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) fighter Jon…

4 days ago