In an interview with The Athletic’s Sam Amick, Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks mentioned that he is “determined” to win one other championship and blessed to be within the Most Valuable Player dialog once more. He additionally described himself as “probably the most aggressive man who ever lived” and mentioned he is not clear in regards to the standards for MVP.
“The factor that I do not get in regards to the MVP standards is it modifications,” Antetokounmpo instructed The Athletic.
He continued: “So what’s the MVP? Is it the man who scores probably the most factors? Is it the man who’s probably the most environment friendly? Is it the man who’s probably the most dominant? Is it the man who’s probably the most useful? Sometimes, the very best participant is not probably the most useful participant on the staff. Like, I really feel like (Bucks heart) Brook (Lopez) is such a useful participant for our staff. Like (the MVP standards) simply f—ing — sorry for my language — it simply modifications. As I mentioned once more, I am unable to management that. I can management solely how I put together for the sport and attempt to be prepared for the sport.”
Antetokounmpo gained the MVP award in 2019 and 2020, then completed fourth in voting in 2021 and third in 2022. He is within the combine once more now; with about three-and-a-half weeks left within the common season, it is successfully a three-man race between Antetokounmpo, the Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic and the Philadelphia 76ers’ Joel Embiid.
Since Antetokounmpo didn’t elaborate additional about his concern with the award, we do not know what he thinks the standards needs to be. He is much from the primary, nonetheless, to gripe in regards to the NBA’s stance on the matter. The league has all the time left it as much as particular person voters to find out what “most dear” means to them.
Antetokounmpo mentioned that he is “a man that stays in my lane and talks about issues that I can management. I am unable to management the MVP.” He mentioned he’ll focus on it privately, with “the folks I actually are about,” however is not going to make his case for the award, even when he want to win it:
But my opinion doesn’t matter, you recognize? And I do not need to be that man who says one thing to affect folks. I attempt to management what I can management, and (being in) a dialog of being once more — for the fifth yr — for the Most Valuable Player, man, it is a blessing within the sky for me. Would I need to win it, (with) my aggressive facet? I’m probably the most aggressive man who ever lived. I’m obsessive about basketball. It’s like asking me if I actually need to play basketball. Of course I need to be the most effective. Of course I need to compete for the championship. Of course I would like folks to worth me and what I deliver to the desk. But on the finish of the day, the way in which I view it, the very best participant is — and I’ve mentioned this since coaching camp, over and over — the very best participant is the participant that makes his staff nice, you recognize? And I simply need to carry on making my staff nice, and hopefully extra blessings come alongside my approach.
Antetokounmpo mentioned that his two MVP trophies and his Finals MVP trophy are subsequent to one another in his workplace, however he desires “to create extra artwork” reasonably than specializing in the previous. The interview came about on Saturday, after Stephen Curry led the Golden State Warriors to a 125-116 win over the Bucks in time beyond regulation with Antetokounmpo sidelined. Antetokounmpo mentioned that Curry had “created artwork” that day and he feels that he must be “f—ing determined” to compete with the likes of Curry and Kevin Durant:
I really feel like typically (accomplishments from the previous) stops you from going on the market and chasing and being determined. Why I’m right here is as a result of I’m determined. I’m not as proficient as Steph. I’m not as proficient as KD. I’m f—ing determined. I’m obsessed. I’m scared to lose what God has gave me and the life that I’ve supplied for my children and my brothers and for my mother, you recognize? I’m scared. So I f—ing work as exhausting as I can, as a result of I do not need to lose this s—. And it isn’t gonna cease till I’m out of this league. So I do have the trophies someplace. But I strive not to have a look at them, as a result of I need to win one other one. I do need to. But I do not need to go and say it. I do not need to beg. I would like my recreation to talk for itself.
In 54 video games this season, Antetokounmpo has averaged a career-high 31.5 factors, plus 11.9 rebounds and 5.5 assists in 32.6 minutes. His utilization charge (37.8%) leads the whole league, and his true taking pictures proportion (60%) has solely taken a average dip. The Bucks have the very best file and greatest protection within the league, they usually’ve gained 21 of the final 22 video games by which Antetokounmpo has performed.
In different phrases, his recreation is talking loudly. In a mean season, he’d be shoo-in for the MVP award. This yr, nonetheless, the competitors is stiff, no matter what standards you are utilizing.
