Reigning two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo has signed a max extension with the Milwaukee Bucks. The five-year extension worth $228 million is the largest in NBA history. In simpler terms, Antetokounmpo secured the bag.
Giannis Antetokounmpo Becomes NBA’s Highest-Paid Player
Milwaukee Bucks Secure their Superstar
Antetokoumpo signed a five-year extension with the Milwaukee Bucks worth $228 million. The contract includes a player option for the final year. That puts the 26-year old Antetokounmpo on the Bucks through his 31st birthday, if he picks up the option for the final season.
Now, the Bucks will turn their attention to building a contender around one of the best players in the NBA.
This is my home, this is my city.. I’m blessed to be able to be a part of the Milwaukee Bucks for the next 5 years. Let’s make these years count. The show goes on, let’s get it. 🤎🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/895tCBE9RK
— Giannis Antetokounmpo (@Giannis_An34) December 15, 2020
Though the Bucks have been in the mix for the past few seasons, they have yet to reach the NBA Finals. In 2019 they fell in the Eastern Conference Finals to the eventual champion Toronto Raptors. In a 2020 season that was anything but typical, the Bucks again fell short of glory, this time at the hands of the Miami Heat, a team that went on to win the Eastern Conference, in the second round.
Despite the playoff shortcomings, Antetokounmpo is considered one of the top players in the league. He can easily back up those claims with back-to-back MVP seasons. During that span, he averaged roughly 30 points, 13 rebounds, and 6 assists per game. Just for good measure, he also added a Defensive Player of the Year title to his resume in 2020.
Now, the 2020-21 season will surely come with heightened expectations, as if they weren’t high enough already. If Antetokounmpo is finally able to break through the Eastern Conference playoffs and reach the NBA Finals — especially considering the emergence of the new-look Brooklyn Nets — perhaps the contract will be justified in the eyes of the masses. However, if he falls short again, he may quickly become one of the most criticized players since LeBron James made his decision to head to South Beach.
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