Photo Credit: Manuela Davies/Getty Images
Giannis Antetokounmpo Believes He Can Win MVP & MIP Next Season
Giannis Antetokounmpo had one of the best individual seasons in NBA history, at age 22.
For the season, Giannis averaged a ridiculous
22.9 PPG / 8.7 REB / 5.4 AST / 1.6 STL / 1.9 BLK while shooting 52.2% from the field and 77.0% from the line
But how good of a season was it compared to other and former NBA stars? Well, only eight players in history have ever averaged 22, 8 and 5 on 50% shooting from the field. And it is one exclusive list:
- Oscar Robertson (1962-63)
- Wilt Chamberlain (four times)
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (twice)
- Larry Bird (four times)
- Michael Jordan in (1988-89)
- Charles Barkley in (1992-93)
- LeBron James in (2012-13; and this season)
- Kevin Durant in (2015-16)
All of these players are, or will be, absolute legends. Also, Giannis hasn’t even hit his prime yet and is the youngest player on that list. Big O was 24, MJ and Larry Legend were 25.
That’s not all, Giannis added a unique record to his impressive season. The ‘Greek Freak’ finished in the top 20 in total points, rebounds, assists, blocks, and steals, becoming the first player in NBA history to do so.
Giannis’ final season rankings:
- Points: 1,832 – 14th
- Rebounds: 700 – 15th
- Assists: 434 – 18th
- Blocks: 151 – 5th
- Steals: 131 – 9th
Antetokounmpo also led the Milwaukee Bucks in all of these categories which actually is ridiculous. His potential is unreal, and we are witnessing the development of someone who may possibly be one of the greatest players the league has ever seen. He rightfully won the Most Improved Player Award, by a landslide. Giannis believes that he can win MIP again next year. Oh, and the MVP award, too.
In an interview, with the Milwaukee Bucks’ play-by-play announcer Jim Paschke, Antetokounmpo said:
Paschke: You know you won’t be Most Improved again because you were an All-Star starter, right? You probably won’t win that award again.
Antetokounmpo: Why? I might be the MVP this year.
Paschke: I said Most Improved. MVP you can win.
Antetokounmpo: OK, but … if I win the MVP, I can be the Most Improved.
Since the East got weaker, and the Milwaukee Bucks will be more experienced (and have Khris Middleton), it is very likely for them to improve their record from last year. Antetokounmpo has improved in every major stat category, every year that he has been in the league.
Credit: Wikipedia
If he continues to improve like this next year, the MVP award is actually a realistic achievement. Most of the other potential candidates are teammates with other superstars Stephen Curry plays with Kevin Durant, James Harden’s newest teammate is Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook’s team added the talents of Paul George, and LeBron James will possibly still be playing with Kyrie Irving.
Giannis Antetokounmpo isn’t a dark horse candidate for MVP anymore, he might even be the favorite.
