Can Giannis Antetokounmpo repeat as MVP?
Having taken such huge leaps and bounds after each and every season of his career, Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo reached the NBA summit by being named last year’s Most Valuable Player.
The arrival of reigning NBA Coach of the Year, Mike Budenholzer, was instrumental in unlocking the system around Antetokounmpo, and the Greek phenom responded by putting together an incredible campaign by averaging 27.7 points on .578/.256/.729 shooting splits, 12.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 1.5 blocks and 1.3 steals over his 72 regular season appearances.
Now the big question is whether the 24-year-old can do it all over again this season.
It’s a proposition that certainly will have its many challengers as my co-site expert Adam McGee recently broke down the slew of players around the league that will surely chase Antetokounmpo in an effort to knock him off from his second MVP pursuit.
On the other hand, the infrastructure is certainly there for Antetokounmpo to do so after having a year under his belt playing for Budenholzer and his system, and the Bucks’ offseason additions could further unleash Antetokounmpo in terms of the spacing players like Korver and Matthews will look to provide, among others.
Even though Antetokounmpo’s pleas to not be called MVP have proved to be unsuccessful so far, he might just have to get used to it as he readies himself for the start of the season. Betting against him in his chase for a potential second straight MVP award might end up being foolish, given how past skepticism has ended up.