Giannis Antetokounmpo: 3 reasons why he should win Defensive Player of the Year
By Brennan Olin
3. Success on the biggest stage
If there’s one thing you can count on with Giannis, it’s that he’s not afraid of a challenge. No matter the stage, no matter the stakes, Giannis is going to show up defensively. He’ll never back down from a challenge. There was no better example of this than this year’s All-Star game.
With the introduction of the “Elam Ending” to the game, an increased level of competition came too. The final quarter of the game was perhaps the highest level of competition in the NBA this year. Ten of the league’s best players shared the floor going all out, and in the closing possessions of the game, Giannis went toe-to-toe with one of the greatest players of all time, LeBron James.
Giannis had a couple of absolutely mind-boggling blocks on James, and another on Anthony Davis. They were so incredible that you need to see them to believe them. Start the video below at 2:19 to see all three blocks.
When his team needed him the most, he stepped up to the plate and he delivered. It’s the kind of thing that Giannis does on a nightly basis, no matter how big the moment is.
Next. 3 big improvements Giannis made in 2019-20 season. dark
When you put that with his stats, his case for DPOY is insurmountable, and packed with moments that voters will have noticed over the course of the season. It’s time for him to get proper recognition. It’s time for him to claim that trophy.