National Basketball Association

Milwaukee Bucks: Giannis Antetokounmpo Is On An MVP Path

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Although All-Star is the more immediate focus for many, if everything pans out for the Milwaukee Bucks in the coming years, Giannis Antetokounmpo should find himself in the MVP picture.

From the moment Giannis Antetokounmpo first took the court with the Milwaukee Bucks, it was abundantly clear that he possessed the physical tools to be a dominant force in the NBA. Now he’s on the verge of super stardom.

The Greek Freak is still a bit unpolished, but there is no reason to believe 2016-17 won’t be the year he breaks through to All-Star status and becomes a household name. Antetokounmpo, much like the entirety of the Bucks’ organization, is in ascension-mode.

It has been a pleasure to watch Antetokounmpo develop as a basketball player and as a person of integrity off the court. He is exactly what Milwaukee needs, and judging from his comforting comments about the community, he is here for the long haul. Earlier this year he announced via EuroHoops.net that he wants to do for Milwaukee what Tim Duncan did for San Antonio and Kobe Bryant did for Los Angeles.

“I’ve become attached to Milwaukee. The thought that I might not win a championship in my career doesn’t even exist in my mind. I will win at some point! I will do everything to win a championship.”

His 2015-16 campaign was his strongest yet in three seasons at the ripe age of 21. He produced nearly 17 points per game, along with close to eight rebounds and more than four assists. The phrase “total package” is overused but totally accurate in describing Antetokounmpo.

Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

The young Buck will be a perennial all-star. At this point, such a claim is not bold. It’s expected. I’m willing to take it one step further, though – Antetokounmpo will be a league MVP before career’s end. Every facet of his game is improving. The difference-maker will be his jump shot. When he sharpens and fine-tunes his jumper and three-point shot, he will border on unstoppable.

He’s getting there. Last season he posted a 26 percent mark from beyond the arc. That number needs to rise if Milwaukee expects to bring home its first MVP award since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar reigned in the 1970s. It is rising. Antetokounmpo’s stats across the board were elevated in the second half of last season.

His increased production went hand-in-hand with Jason Kidd’s decision to move Antetokounmpo to floor general. He averaged more than seven assists per game after the all-star break, which placed him in the top 10 in the NBA during that span. The 6’11” stud can play any position on the court. His diverse skill set puts him on a short list of contemporaries capable of doing it all.

Antetokounmpo is likeable, too. His smile is infectious, and it’s clear that he has fun playing basketball. Having fun (and winning) is the way to a fan base’s heart. When the players are having fun, that feeling radiates throughout an arena. It’s a wonderful thing. And that feeling is what makes it so easy to root for Antetokounmpo and the Bucks.

The 2016-17 season is about a week away. The Greek Freak is set to blow up the highlight reel and take another step toward MVP-caliber production.