The MVP Case For: Giannis Antetokounmpo
Every sports league concludes its season with award presentations. These awards are given to the most confusing and dazzling thrower, the best net protector, and even the best instructor of players. One award that every league shares is the Most Valuable Player Award (MVP). Call it what you want. Some sports chose to name the award after someone. The NHL has the Conn Smyth Award and Major League Soccer (MLS) named the award after American soccer legend Landon Donovan. The award is the most prestigious, given to the best of the best, the player who stood above all others night in and night out for an entire season be it 16, 82, or 162 games. While the NBA MVP talk this year seems to be limited to Russell Westbrook and James Harden, maybe it’s time we take a closer look at the award to find someone possibly more deserving.
MVP, as stated above, stands for Most Valuable Player. As in, most valuable player to his team. While Westbrook and Harden have made flashy play after flashy play, posting triple doubles on the daily, and eating their way through the league- it’s time to take a further look into the NBA. More importantly, into the BMO Harris Bradley Center, where you will find the Greek Freak Giannis Antetokounmpo tearing it up on a nightly basis. By now, you’ve heard probably heard that Giannis is leading the Bucks in every category. While we’re scrolling through our Facebook and Twitter feeds, I’m not sure everyone is comprehending just how amazing, or valuable, of a player Antetokounmpo is.
For now, the Bucks are in the playoff picture, currently holding the 7th seed in the East. A lot of that has to do with The Greek Freak. His 23 points per game and 9 RPG both make up 20% of the Bucks PPG and RPG. 6 of the Bucks 25 assists per game are recorded by Giannis. That means, if Antetokounmpo sat out a game, which he has yet to do this season, they would be missing their leading scorer, rebounder, passer, blocker and stealer(?).
When I say he does it all, I mean he does it all. This 6'11 freak whose hands are bigger than Rex Ryan’s belly, is relied upon for anything and everything his team needs. People say he plays the “Stretch Forward”, which means he can do anything from bringing the ball up in a flash of lightning, knocking down three pointers, or posting up a player. He’s led by Future Hall Of Famer and coach of the Bucks, Jason Kidd. Kidd has decided to stick him at the point guard position for now which allows him to see and utilize everything on the court, similar to Magic Johnson.
No matter what I write I won’t be able to do justice to the excitement I experience every time I watch Giannis play. His biological design, forget any actual basketball talent, makes him a lock to amaze crowds every single night he steps on the floor. Re-watch that clip above. How in the world did he take off from right in front of the free-throw line and dunk the ball? I spoke to someone who witnessed the play live and said “When I saw him go up, I just thought ‘there’s no way he dunks that.’” But he did. This guy is unreal. Watch him go 72 feet in 2 dribbles in this next clip? Are you not entertained???
There’s no denying that Westbrook or Harden are two of the best players on the planet right now, better individual players than Giannis (for now). But remember, we’re not discussing the Best Player Award. We’re talking Most Valuable Player, and it’s pretty hard to argue that anyone is more valuable to their franchise than Antetokounmpo.
