Milwaukee Bucks: Giannis Antetokounmpo Named Player of the Month

A great month for the Milwaukee Bucks has been capped off with the news of Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s Eastern Conference Player of the Month win.

Giannis Antetokounmpo’s remarkable season has now gained even further recognition, to put the cherry on top of what was already a great month for the Milwaukee Bucks.

Jason Kidd was named as the Eastern Conference’s Coach of the Month earlier on Monday afternoon, and it didn’t take too much longer for Giannis to receive a similar accolade.

Antetokounmpo was named as the Eastern Conference’s Player of the Month for March, with Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard the equivalent winner for the Western Conference.

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The Bucks finished the month of March with a record of 14-4 — the best in the Eastern Conference — as Antetokounmpo drove his teammates back into the heart of the playoff picture.

Giannis averaged 22.4 points, 8.4 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 2.2 steals and 1.3 blocks in 18 games in March, while shooting 51.4 percent from the field, 32.1 percent from deep and 72.8 percent from the free throw line.

Following on from Antetokounmpo’s All-Star starting berth earlier in the year, this award marks the Greek Freak’s first Player of the Month win. Giannis has previously been named as the Player of the Week for his conference in December 2016 and in February 2015.

The 22-year-old’s Player of the Month success makes him only the fourth Milwaukee Bucks winner in the award’s history, and the first since Michael Redd was honored for his play in January 2004. The only other Bucks winners were Sidney Moncrief in December 1981 and Terry Cummings in January 1985.

Now, the focus for Antetokounmpo turns to securing Milwaukee’s place in the postseason, and then trying to spring his team to an upset win in a first round series.

Beyond that, Giannis could also be in the running for further individual awards at the season’s end. Antetokounmpo seems like a safe bet for a spot on one of the three All-NBA teams, will likely be in the mix for a place on the All-Defensive teams, and is considered to be among the frontrunners for the league’s Most Improved Player Award.

Next: Milwaukee Bucks: Jason Kidd Named East’s Coach of the Month For March

It has been a long time since the Bucks have had a player of Antetokounmpo’s talent, and as such, he’s getting the kind of praise and recognition that very few Bucks have been afforded in recent years. Congratulations to Giannis, and long may that trend continue.