Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo was named the Most Valuable Player of the Year for 2020, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. This is back-to-back seasons where Antetokounmpo has been named the league’s Most Valuable Player.
Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo has won his second consecutive MVP award, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) September 18, 2020
Giannis Antetokounmpo Wins Back to Back MVPs
Antetokounmpo was the clear favorite to win the MVP award this season. He beat out LeBron James and James Harden who were the other finalists for the MVP award. Antetokounmpo became the 13th player in NBA history to win consecutive MVPs. He led the Bucks to a 56-17 record during the regular season. This is the second consecutive season where the Bucks had the best record in the league. Antetokounmpo adds more one more trophy to his trophy case after winning the Defensive Player of the Year this season. He became the 3rd player in NBA history to win a Defensive Player of the Year and MVP in the same season. Only Michael Jordan and Hakeem Olajuwon have achieved this before him.
Add Giannis to the list of greats to win MVP and Defensive Player of the Year in the same season 💪
(via @wojespn) pic.twitter.com/fcx6NRzvT7
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) September 18, 2020
Antetokounmpo was an unstoppable force during the regular season. He averaged 29.5 points, 13.6 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 1.0 blocks, and 1.0 steals in 30.4 minutes per contest. His points and rebound averages were career-highs for him.
Antetokounmpo’s Leadership and Work Ethic
Aside from being a great player, Antetokounmpo is a leader who leads by example and a great locker room presence for the Bucks. He is a hard worker and constantly works on his game. Antetokounmpo goes so far as he finds a way to sneak into the practice facility during “lockout” days when Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer wants his players to rest. His teammates weren’t short on praise for the Bucks superstar about his leadership and his work ethic.
His teammate Pat Connaughton said, “From what I’ve seen over the last two years, he’s getting to the point now where his voice is becoming heard often. But what he’s always done really well is lead by example. When the best player on your team is doing that, especially on a championship team, everybody else falls in that line. He has relationships, friendships, discussions with every guy on the team and everybody wants to play for him.”
Bucks All-Star Khris Middleton also echoed those sentiments. Middleton said “He puts his work in, before practice, after practice. He’s in the weight room all the time. Guys see that. You’ve got one of the best players in the league, here doing that all the time, you’re going to follow.”
Antetokounmpo came up in the NBA as a scrawny teenager, now he’s a two-time MVP.
Main Photo:
Embed from Getty Images
