Giannis Antetokounmpo is a true NBA generational talent, and he’s still getting better

Giannis Antetokounmpo respected the NBA Cup harder than anyone

In the end, Giannis Antetokounmpo simply respected the Cup harder than anyone else. The Milwaukee Bucks finished off a perfect run in NBA Cup play after beating the Oklahoma City Thunder, 97-81, in the final. This wasn’t quite Antetokounmpo’s legendary romp through the 2021 NBA Finals, but Giannis was incredible throughout on his way to being named NBA Cup MVP, and it was clear that winning the event meant something to him.

The Bucks started this season 2-10, and seemed destined to descend into Giannis trade rumors and an ugly end. Antetokounmpo was just too great to let this season go off the rails, pulling Milwaukee out of its hole with a 13-3 stretch over its last 16 games. For the Bucks, this mid-season trophy serves as a reminder that they can still be the Eastern Conference contender we thought they were coming into the season.

The Bucks have found some real solutions to their problems lately. Andre Jackson Jr. has emerged to provide some sorely needed point-of-attack defense on opposing guards, and A.J. Green has forced his way into the lineup as a knockdown shooter (47.6 percent from three) who works hard defensively. Khris Middleton is working his way back, too. Milwaukee still has plenty of issues if we’re talking about them as a team that can win three or four playoff series, but at least this isn’t a disaster anymore. They can thank employing an all-time great player at the peak of his powers.

Antetokounmpo was so dominant in the Cup final that the biggest talking point after the game was if he should be front-runner for MVP right now. He finished with 26 points, 19 rebounds, 10 assists, three blocks, and two steals. There was real exaltation on his face lifting up the NBA Cup trophy and the Cup MVP award.

The NBA Cup is only in its second year of existence, and its biggest challenge is getting people to think a made up mid-season trophy matters. Well, it clearly mattered to Giannis, one of the best players of his generation and — in my estimation — a top-25 talent in league history.

On social media, the running joke is that teams, players, and fans had to respect the Cup. No one respected it more than Giannis.

Antetokounmpo was a monster throughout the Cup. After finishing a perfect 4-0 in group play, Giannis rescued the Bucks from an upset bid by the Orlando Magic in the quarterfinals by finishing with 37 points on 15-of-24 shooting from the field, to go along with seven rebounds and six stocks. Against the Hawks in the East finals, hit put up 32 points on 10-of-15 shooting to go with 14 rebounds, nine assists, and four blocks.

Antetokounmpo made the best play of the Cup at the end of the East finals, rotating for a weakside block on Clint Capela to seal the win.

We like to overuse the phrase “generational talent” when we talk about sports, but Giannis really is a generational talent. After turning 30 earlier this month, Giannis already has two NBA MVPs, one Defensive Player of the Year Award, an NBA championship, and an NBA Finals MVP on his resume. He is at worst the second best player of the NBA’s 1990s born generation. His resume looks exactly like Nikola Jokic’s if he wins NBA MVP this year, with a DPOY to boot.

Giannis’ greatness shouldn’t be taken for granted. He’s basketball’s resident Incredible Hulk, a 6’11, 243-pound freight train with a freakish combination of speed and power. Most admirably, Antetokounmpo plays hard as hell on every possession. It’s rare the most talented player on the court is also playing with the highest motor, but that’s been Giannis’ signature trait since his rise to power. He’s even cut back on the three-point attempts he was never good at this year, and has instead showed improvement as a mid-post shooter.

Antetokounmpo has a real shot at MVP, though I’d likely have him second behind Jokic right now. He sure out-played fellow MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on Tuesday night in what we should consider an important game. As Giannis keeps on trucking, the Bucks have reason to hold a little hope for the rest of this season. It sure would be nice if he had a little more help, but just having this version of Giannis, fully immersed in the prime of his career and perhaps as great as he’s ever been, gives the Bucks a chance.