It wasn't even clear if Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo was going to be ready for the start of the NBA Finals because of the knee injury he suffered against the Atlanta Hawks. That injury cost him two-plus games in the Eastern Conference Finals, and it seemed like a long shot that he would be ready for Game 1 against the Phoenix Suns. Instead, Antetokounmpo played in Game 1 and looked pretty solid, and he has since dominated the last two games, albeit with one of those big performances coming in a Game 2 loss.
Bucks teammate Bobby Portis is absolutely amazed at what Giannis has accomplished coming back from his knee injury. It truly is freaky, and Portis wants to commend the person who came up with Antetokounmpo's nickname.
Via The Athletic's Bucks beat writer Eric Nehm:
“I don’t even know how he’s even doing it, man,” Portis said. “Most of the time when guys (return from an injury), they come back and ease into it, or they come back and they’re kind of timid and whatnot. He’s still just going out there and playing the same way like he never did that.”
“I just think whoever gave him the nickname the Greek Freak did a great job of that, for real. It’s different how he’s playing out there and doing all these different things and just being himself. I’m saying, that’s just rare. That’s really special of him to put his body on the line for the team and just go out there and do the things he’s doing.”
The Bucks star just made history in several ways in Game 3, becoming the second player (the other is Shaq) to record back-to-back NBA Finals games with at least 40 points and 10 rebounds by notching 41 points and 13 rebounds. He had 42 points and 12 rebounds in the Game 2 loss.
The Bucks have now made it a series by winning Game 3, setting up a crucial Game 4 in Milwaukee. There's little reason to expect Giannis to slow down now, and we'll see what kind of freaky stat line he puts up as he and the Bucks try to even up the NBA Finals at 2-2.
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