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September 19, 2020 By: Kevin Kissner

Giannis Antetokounmpo wins second-straight NBA MVP award

Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks has won his second NBA MVP award in as many seasons.

Antetokounmpo is now the 12th player in league history to win back-to-back MVPs. The Bucks’ superstar joins Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Moses Malone, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Tim Duncan, Steve Nash, LeBron James, and most recently Stephen Curry on the list of repeat winners.

There was much debate as to who would win the award between Antetokounmpo and Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James. But in the end, “The Greek Freak” received 85 of the 101 first-place votes. James received the other 16 first-place votes.

The 25-year old has also become the 3rd player in NBA history along with Michael Jordan and Hakeem Olajuwon to win MVP and defensive player of the year in the same season.

Antetokounmpo told Ernie Johnson during a live interview Friday to not call him a MVP until he becomes a champion.

Milwaukee finished the regular season with the best record in the NBA, but lost in the Eastern Conference semi-finals to the Miami Heat.

This season Antetokounmpo averaged 29.5 points per game along with 13.6 rebounds per game and 5.6 assists per game. Antetokounmpo has mentioned that he would like to become a better jump shooter after shooting just 55.3% from the field this season and 30.4% from three-point range.

Antetokounmpo is entering the final season of his contract with Milwaukee and his future with the Bucks remains unclear. He could decide to stay with the Bucks and get a max contract, or decide to move on to another team like most superstar NBA players are doing these days.

Looks like those workouts in the offseason with Kevin Garnett have paid off.