In April 1971, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar — a 24-year-old goliath then known as Lew Alcindor — led the Milwaukee Bucks to their first NBA championship. The franchise’s 50-year wait for a second triumph ended on Tuesday following a masterpiece from Greek forward Giannis Antetokounmpo which powered the Bucks to a 105-98 win over the visiting Phoenix Suns.
With the victory, the small-market Bucks clinched the NBA finals 4-2 and became only the fifth team to win the best-of-seven championship series after losing the first two games.
Antetokounmpo, 26 and at 6’11”, three inches shorter than Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, made the most of his maiden finals appearance to secure his status as one of the game’s greatest players. He was named most valuable player of the series after scoring 50 points in the clinching game.
“This is a feeling, like this is an addictive feeling,” Antetokounmpo told reporters.
“I want the team to build off this and hopefully we can do it again.”
Antetokounmpo, who was born and raised in Athens to Nigerian parents, joins Dirk Nowitzki (2011), Tony Parker (2007), Tim Duncan (1999, 2005 and 2003) and Hakeem Olajuwon (1994 and 1995) as the only international players to be named NBA finals’ most valuable player.
It was a remarkable performance for Antetokounmpo, especially considering he missed the final two games of the previous series after suffering a knee injury.
But he played every game of the finals and averaged 35.2 points, 13.2 rebounds and five assists.
Antetokounmpo saved his best for the last, turning in one of the greatest performances in NBA finals history, scoring 50 points — a playoff career high — and adding 14 rebounds.
Like he has for most of his career, Antetokounmpo bullied his way to the basket using an array of spin movies and brute force. And while free-throw shooting has long been his weakness, Antetokounmpo stepped up on Tuesday by going 17-of-19 from
the line. He was also a force on the defensive end, blocking five shots.
“It’s hard to find more words to describe what Giannis does,” said Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer. “But the way he made his free throws, the way he did everything, stepped up, the poise, the confidence, the leadership ... He’s off the charts.”
When Antetokounmpo made his NBA debut in 2013 with Milwaukee, one of the league’s smallest markets, he was far from a household name.
Those who could not pronounce Antetokounmpo’s last name would refer to him as “The Greek Freak” — a nickname that has stuck — given the athletic ability and ball-handling skills for someone of his size.
“This should make every person, every kid, anybody around the world to believe in their dreams,” a jubilant Antetokounmpo said after the game.
“I hope I give people around the world from Africa, from Europe, give them hope that it can be done. Eight-and-a-half years ago, before I came into the league, I didn’t know where my next meal would come from. My mom was selling stuff in the street.”
