Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo is only the third player in NBA history to win MVP and Defensive Player of the Year in the same season, joining Hall of Famers Michael Jordan and Hakeem Olajuwon.
During an interview with TNT's Ernie Johnson, Antetokounmpo talked about what it means to join a list with only Jordan and Olajuwon on it.
"Just being in the same sentence as them, it means a lot to me."
Giannis on joining Michael Jordan and Hakeem Olajuwon as the only players to win MVP and DPOY in the same season: pic.twitter.com/kk0dtSoMDX
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) September 18, 2020
Giannis Antetokounmpo could retire from the NBA today and he'd still be a first-ballot Hall of Famer despite not having any championships on his belt yet.
When you are on a list that only has Michael Jordan and Hakeem Olajuwon on it, you have cemented yourself as a basketball legend.
Antetokounmpo has nothing left to accomplish in the NBA besides winning a championship for the Bucks. Milwaukee lost to the Miami Heat in the second round of this year's playoffs in five quick games. The Greek Freak wasn't able to play in Game 5 due to his ankle injury, and it was clearly not the way he wanted his 2019-20 season to end.
However, the loss to the Heat will certainly fuel Antetokounmpo to work extra hard this offseason. The two-time MVP has to develop at least a mid-range game if he wants to win a championship with the Bucks.
Otherwise, teams are going to continue to pack the paint against Giannis in the postseason, a tactic that has worked against the Bucks the last two postseasons.
Antetokounmpo can sign the supermax extension with Milwaukee this offseason. If he doesn't, the do-it-all forward will become an unrestricted free agent in 2021.
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