What a difference a few weeks is for an NBA team. Not long into the 2024-2025 NBA Season, the Milwaukee Bucks were one of the biggest disappointments, but a quick turnaround led by star Giannis Antetokounmpo gave them life.
The Milwaukee Bucks came into the middle of November losing nine of the 12 games played despite stellar performances from Antetokounmpo and point guard Damian Lillard. They would turn it around in the next 13 games by winning 11.
Their only losses during that time were to the red-hot Atlanta Hawks and at the Boston Celtics. Milwaukee’s rebound helped them capture the NBA Cup with a 97-81 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder thanks to another monster game from Giannis.
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Last season and the start of this season left a bad taste in Giannis Antetokounmpo’s mouth as the team underperformed. Antetokounmpo still played at a high level at 30 years old, but much of that has been overshadowed by the team’s poor performances.
His push for the team to get better finally paid off in the last 13 games as they won 11 of them. In the last 13 games, the Bucks have averaged 114.1 points while allowing an average of 107.8 points.
Giannis has been the driving force for the Bucks during this stretch. Before Tuesday’s win over the Thunder, Giannis scored an average of 33.1 points shooting a field-goal percentage of 62.3% while averaging 10.5 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 0.7 steals per game and 1.7 blocks.
On Tuesday night, however, Antetokounmpo kicked it up to another level against the Thunder.
He scored 26 points shooting 10-of-19 in field goals as well as accounting for 19 total rebounds, 10 assists, two steals and three blocks. He dominated a much smaller Thunder team in scoring and getting boards as he should; he is still one of the most overpowering players on the court in the NBA.
On Wednesday, former NBA center DeMarcus Cousins appeared on FanDuel’s Run It Back podcast to talk about the Bucks’ NBA Cup win:
“Obviously with Giannis, he put on a show. He dominated. He was a one-man wrecking crew.
“You know as far as being physically dominant, I think in this era of basketball, he’s the closest thing to a Shaquille O’Neal.”
Shaq’s dominance in the 1990s and 2000s made him one of the most popular stars of his era, and still a recognizable face and voice in the NBA today.
It is no surprise to see Antetokounmpo attempt to win his third league MVP award and try to win his second NBA title.
Giannis has a competitive spirit as he looks dominate night-in and night-out. He isn’t a player that is going to take plays off. That is why he always posts high numbers for the Bucks.
It was a combination of his leadership and playmaking abilities that helped bring a winning streak to the Bucks along with the NBA Cup.
Lillard is 34 years old and longtime Bucks forward Khris Middleton is 33 years old. They have less years to play at a high level than Giannis.
The jury is still out on Doc Rivers being a playoff-caliber coach, but as long as Giannis likes him, he is staying.
Giannis is looking to play at an MVP level because he knows what it takes for Milwaukee to potentially win another title; their first since 2021.
