The top teams in the league have not enjoyed much success in the bubble so far. The Lakers have lost four out of the six games that they have played so far. Likewise, the Milwaukee Bucks registered their third loss since the restart, against a dazzling Dallas Mavericks team. The game gave a glimpse of what could emerge as a potential rivalry in the future: Giannis Antetokounmpo versus Luka Doncic.
The Bucks vs Mavs went into overtime after which Luka and his team held on to register the victory. 21-year-old Luka Doncic scored 36 points on the night and recorded his 17th triple-double of the season. The young talent is certainly destined to be the face of the NBA in the near future. He surely is way ahead of everyone else when it comes to smashing records.
Total number of CAREER games with at least 30 points, 15 assists and 10 rebounds:
LeBron James: 3
James Harden: 3
Wilt Chamberlain: 2
Michael Jordan: 2
Jason Kidd: 1
Larry Bird: 1Games with at least 30 points, 15 assists and 10 rebounds THIS SEASON:
Luka Doncic: 3
— Tommy Beer (@TommyBeer) August 9, 2020
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On the other hand, reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo recorded a double-double, but could only register a single assist through the game. After facing a loss against Luka and the Mavs, ‘The Greek Freak’ took a few minutes to answer questions from the reporters.
Giannis Antetokounmpo sings words of praise for Luka Doncic
The NBA is currently witnessing two talented international players in Giannis and Doncic. Though the Bucks star came to the NBA much earlier than Luka, the latter wasted no time in establishing himself as one of the best in the league.
Athletes always recognize greatness. They immediately know a special talent as soon as they see one. Similarly, Giannis spoke about Luka Doncic in high regard following their OT loss to the Mavs.
“Talented, really talented. One of the most talented guys I’ve ever played against,” Giannis said, as per Matt Eppers of USA Today. “He’s making the whole team better, and he’s going to keep getting better. As long as he’s making his team better, they’re going to be tough to beat.”
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Both the Bucks and the Mavs have sealed a berth in the playoffs. It would be interesting to see how Doncic performs in his first-ever postseason appearance in the NBA. On the other hand, the mission inside Giannis’ mind will be crystal clear. Making it to the NBA finals and winning the championship for the Bucks would be the #1 priority for 25-year-old Giannis Antetokounmpo.
SOURCE: USA Today, Tommy Beer – Twitter