It wasn't long ago that former NBA center (and now on-air NBA analyst) Ryan Hollins claimed that Milwaukee Bucks star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo was unworthy of NBA MVP consideration due to his role away from the ball at the end of games.
Yet, on Wednesday night against a fellow MVP candidate in Houston Rockets superstar James Harden, the Greek Freak did what he usually does in fourth quarters: sprinkle bits of brilliance to help the Milwaukee Bucks win yet another statement game.
Following Wednesday night's win, Bucks center Brook Lopez said that Milwaukee has unequivocally embraced Antetokounmpo as the best player in the league.
“I definitely think it's our belief inside this locker room, and a lot just around the league, that we have the best player in the league right here,” Lopez said, according to ESPN's Tim MacMahon. “He does it in so many ways. He makes so many of his players better. He's all over the court constantly. It's so impressive to watch every night.”
In the fourth quarter, Antetokounmpo didn't need to focus on scoring with the Bucks already boasting a nine-point lead. Instead, he filled the box score with seven points, three rebounds and three assists en route to a night where he he had a stat line of 27 points and a career-high 21 rebounds (along with five assists and one steal).
Most importantly, Antetokounmpo knocked down five of his six free throws in the clutch, including a critical pair with 25 seconds to go, giving the Rockets no semblance of hope, despite playing on their own home floor.
Lopez has seen the body of work and a career-best season that has elevated him into the NBA's elite, perhaps now surpassing others as the best player in the league.
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