9:24 PM ET
In Milwaukee Bucks coach Mike Budenholzers mind, the pick for NBA MVP is a simple option: Giannis Antetokounmpo.
When the league informed groups on Friday that the races for MVP and other regular-season specific awards are over– ahead of the NBA reboot in Orlando, Florida– the choice came as news to Budenholzer.
I believe it was 64, 65, 66 video games for different teams, so thats certainly a substantial body of work, and more significantly, certainly, Giannis, in our minds, has actually done more than enough to be worthy of a back-to-back MVP,” Budenholzer stated. And I believe thats kind of what the MVP is, so we definitely feel like hes really deserving, and well be delighted to support him.”
If Antetokounmpo, 25, wins the award, he would join LeBron James (25 years old in 2009-10) and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (24 years of ages in 1971-72) as the only gamers to win multiple NBA MVPs at age 25 or more youthful, per ESPN Stats & & Information research study. The Greek-born Antetokounmpo would join Tim Duncan (two) and Steve Nash (two) as the 3rd player born outside the U.S. to win multiple MVPs.
Antetokounmpo is also wanting to sign up with Michael Jordan and Hakeem Olajuwon as the only gamers to win Defensive Player of the Year and MVP in the exact same season.
At the time of the shutdown since of the coronavirus pandemic, Caesars Sportsbook had Antetokounmpos odds as -800 to win MVP, ahead of James (+500 ).
On Thursday, Antetokounmpo announced the main release of his 2nd signature sneaker, the Nike Zoom Freak 2, with special access to Nike members via Zoom. He called Kevin Durant, Magic Johnson, Scottie Pippen and Kevin Garnett as his preferred gamers growing up.
” I desire to be one of the best players to ever play the game,” Antetokounmpo told reporters throughout media accessibility on July 1. “I did the finest job I could do attempting to stay ready and attempting to have my group ready for this journey that were about to go on to leave and play video games. But as I stated, whoever desires it more, whoever is mentally prepared for all this, whats going on in Orlando, thats the group thats gon na come out on top.”
I think it was 64, 65, 66 games for various groups, so thats definitely a significant body of work, and more notably, certainly, Giannis, in our minds, has actually done more than enough to be worthy of a back-to-back MVP,” Budenholzer said. And I believe thats kind of what the MVP is, so we definitely feel like hes extremely deserving, and well be excited to support him.”
” I want to be one of the best players to ever play the game,” Antetokounmpo informed press reporters during media accessibility on July 1.
Eric WoodyardESPN
