Embiid or Jokic? Jokic or Embiid? For 15 days, the race for the MVP comes down to these two names, and at the last ESPN score, the gap has never been so tight. But on the side of Milwaukee, we do not budge: the best player of the season is Giannis Antetokounmpo ! The “Greek Freak” is having an exceptional season and his team has dominated the regular season. Logical that he is considered by some as the MVP, especially after the meeting of this night, where he won his duel with Joel Embiid.
Yet closely held by PJ Tucker, Giannis compiled 33 points, 14 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 blocks in 32 minutes in the Bucks’ victory over the Sixers. At 13 of 17 on shots. Without forcing anything. From the very great Antetokounmpo who let the game come to him, and who does not worry about this possible 3rd crown.
“If you’re thinking about MVP, you’re just putting extra pressure on yourself” he confides. “In the end, I’m happy. Happy to be where I am. Happy to feel privileged. Happy to be able to play every day, to pursue the dream I had when I was little, to try to improve myself, to go on the field…”
The most complete of the three favourites?
For his coach, Mike Budenholzer, there is no doubt: his leader deserves the trophy with his 31.1 points, 11.8 rebounds and 5.6 assists on average. Almost his line of stats of the evening.
“We clearly think that Giannis is the MVP,” said the Bucks coach. “We still have work to do to end up with the best record in the league – but the best player is linked to the best record. There’s what he does on both sides of the field: rebounds, blocks, defense, wide defense. He does everything ! He creates, he attacks, he goes to the free throw line. We have the feeling that he is in the debate, or that he should be the MVP”.
For the Greek, there is no question of putting himself forward or of campaigning for his candidacy. He prefers to play it modest. “It’s a great honor to be MVP. I am happy to have been in the discussion for the past five years. I’m happy to be regular. I am satisfied to help my team to play very well. But that’s the goal, and that’s the only goal: to ensure that the team plays very well. »
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Crew | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2013-14 | MIL | 77 | 25 | 41.4 | 34.7 | 68.3 | 1.0 | 3.4 | 4.4 | 2.0 | 2.3 | 0.8 | 1.6 | 0.8 | 6.8 |
| 2014-15 | MIL | 81 | 31 | 49.1 | 15.9 | 74.1 | 1.2 | 5.5 | 6.7 | 2.6 | 3.1 | 0.9 | 2.1 | 1.1 | 12.7 |
| 2015-16 | MIL | 80 | 35 | 50.6 | 25.7 | 72.4 | 1.4 | 6.2 | 7.7 | 4.3 | 3.2 | 1.2 | 2.6 | 1.4 | 16.9 |
| 2016-17 | MIL | 80 | 36 | 52.1 | 27.2 | 77.0 | 1.8 | 7.0 | 8.8 | 5.4 | 3.1 | 1.6 | 2.9 | 1.9 | 22.9 |
| 2017-18 | MIL | 75 | 37 | 52.9 | 30.7 | 76.0 | 2.1 | 8.0 | 10.0 | 4.8 | 3.1 | 1.5 | 3.0 | 1.4 | 26.9 |
| 2018-19 ★ | MIL | 72 | 33 | 57.8 | 25.6 | 72.9 | 2.2 | 10.3 | 12.5 | 5.9 | 3.2 | 1.3 | 3.7 | 1.5 | 27.7 |
| 2019-20 ★ | MIL | 63 | 30 | 55.3 | 30.4 | 63.3 | 2.2 | 11.4 | 13.6 | 5.6 | 3.1 | 1.0 | 3.7 | 1.1 | 29.5 |
| 2020-21 | MIL | 61 | 33 | 56.9 | 30.3 | 68.5 | 1.6 | 9.4 | 11.0 | 5.9 | 2.8 | 1.2 | 3.4 | 1.2 | 28.2 |
| 2021-22 | MIL | 67 | 33 | 55.3 | 29.3 | 72.2 | 2.0 | 9.6 | 11.6 | 5.8 | 3.2 | 1.1 | 3.3 | 1.4 | 29.9 |
| 2022-23 | MIL | 61 | 32 | 55.0 | 27.6 | 64.8 | 2.2 | 9.5 | 11.8 | 5.6 | 3.1 | 0.8 | 3.8 | 0.8 | 31.1 |
| Total | 717 | 33 | 53.6 | 28.7 | 70.9 | 1.8 | 7.8 | 9.6 | 4.7 | 3.0 | 1.1 | 3.0 | 1.3 | 22.6 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots made / Shots attempted; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def= defensive rebound; Tot = Total bounces; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost bullets; Ct: Counters; Points = Points.
