Taking another step toward the NBA’s elite, Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo established himself as an MVP contender in 2017-18.
At the end of his fifth NBA season, Giannis Antetokounmpo continues to trend in the right direction. And by right direction, I mean on a potentially historic trajectory.
For as much as there are a wide range of disappointments and causes for concern that can be taken and unpacked from the Milwaukee Bucks’ season, none of them can be attributed to the team’s best player.
The 2017-18 season saw Antetokounmpo step up his production from an already sensational base, while also assuming more of a leadership role within his team. There was no doubt about the young Greek’s star status, but he’s now a fully-fledged superstar.
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What exactly does that mean in a more grounded and real context?
Antetokounmpo is now a permanent fixture in debates about the top-five players in the league, a fact that could well be backed up by his place on an All-NBA First Team and/or his rank in the MVP race.
To ascend to that level, Antetokounmpo averaged 26.9 points, 10.0 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.4 blocks in 36.8 minutes per game, while shooting 52.9 percent from the field, 30.7 percent from deep, and 76 percent from the free throw line.
Those regular season numbers were further capped off by stellar playoff play and a second consecutive All-Star Game start too.
So without further ado, let’s take a look back on the latest leap taken by Giannis Antetokounmpo, and the ups and downs that made up his season.