NBA Playoffs: Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo Joins Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in Franchise History Books

The Milwaukee Bucks are a strong force this season. Their primary weapon of strength is ‘Greek Freak’ Giannis Antetokounmpo. The 25-year-old, who is the favorite to claim the league MVP award this season, played his way into the Bucks’ history books in the Game 2 win against the Orlando Magic. 

Despite putting up 31.0 points and 17.0 rebounds against the Magic in Game 1, Giannis still saw his team endure defeat. Thus, he would have been extremely motivated to clinch victory in the second game, which came in a comforting fashion. 

Giannis Antetokounmpo once again starred for the Bucks, registering 28.0 points, 20.0 rebounds, and 5.0 assists. These incredible numbers have earned him a place in the Bucks’ history books, right alongside one of the greats: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. 

With his impressive performance in Game 2, Giannis is now the only Bucks player after Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to record a 25/20/5 game in the playoffs. That is a phenomenal achievement for the reigning MVP. 

Even though Kareem Abdul-Jabbar won five of his six championship rings with the Lakers, he is still considered a legend in Milwaukee. Similarly, Giannis is a Bucks legend, even though he is still young and has a lot more to play in his career. 

How far can Giannis Antetokounmpo take the Bucks this season? 

The whole of Milwaukee rests their hopes on Giannis Antetokounmpo to lead them to glory. Undeniably, he’s got the capacity to take the Bucks all the way to the finals. The 6’11” forward has been unstoppable throughout the season, and he’s here in the Bubble to make a statement. 

In his last five Bubble games, Giannis averaged 27.6  PPG and 14.2 RPG. These are indeed spectacular numbers for any player. He’s the best international star in the NBA at the moment. While the Bucks ended the regular season with the league’s best record for the second straight year, they have a lot of work to do in the playoffs. 

If the Bucks beat the Magic and then surpass their second-round opponents, we might see a recap of last year’s Eastern Conference Finals. The Milwaukee Bucks vs Toronto Raptors. This is where it is critical for the team to succeed as a unit under the leadership of Giannis. 

We’ve seen the Bucks lose control of the game when their best player isn’t on the court. Thus, it is vital for them to regroup on that aspect. Of course, every team in the Playoffs wants to make it to the Finals. But only two of the best can grace the grand stage. Will it be the Bucks and Giannis from the east?