Subscribe
Follow Us
With the Milwaukee Bucks having won the 2021 NBA title, Giannis Antetokounmpo has now changed the narrative of his career and the team after leading them to the promised land against overwhelming odds. This is a big feat for the Bucks seeing as they were written off by the entire basketball world all year long.
Things weren't always pretty, but with the stellar play of Giannis, Khris Middleton, and Jrue Holiday, the Bucks were able to power through and win the championship. Now that Giannis has won back-to-back league MVPs, the 2020 Defensive Player Of The Year, and was named the 2021 NBA Finals MVP, he has joined Michael Jordan and Hakeem Olajuwon as the only players in NBA history to accomplish this feat.
Given all of his previous successes and his most recent milestone, Giannis Antetokounmpo is making a strong case for the most important player in Bucks history over Hall-Of-Famer and NBA Legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Having said all this, let's take a look at the two reasons that make this a valid point.
He helped end their 50 year title drought
In 1971, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar led the Bucks to their first NBA title in franchise history playing alongside fellow NBA legend and Hall-Of-Famer Oscar Robertson. This was an incredible feat for Abdul-Jabbar because it was his first title in only his third season playing in the NBA. However, it was also the only title the Bucks won with Abdul-Jabbar who eventually left the team for greener pastures.
Article Continues Below
On the flip side, Giannis has led them to their first championship since then and gives the Bucks new hope with the potential to win more titles in the near future. After taking the league by complete surprise and winning it all, it seems as if the Bucks are just getting started and with Giannis leading them to their first NBA title in 50 years, this a major milestone for Milwaukee. This also gives Giannis an edge as the most important Milwaukee Buck of all-time.
He plans to spend his entire NBA career playing for the Milwaukee Bucks
In 1975 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar wound up leaving the Bucks to join Magic Johnson on the LA Lakers where he finished out his career and went on to win five more NBA championships. Last offseason Giannis Antetokounmpo had the chance to go elsewhere and join a super team that would give him an easy path to winning his first championship, but he chose to re-sign with the Bucks instead and build a contender while continuing to improve his game.
This in-turn would pay huge dividends for both him and the Bucks with Milwaukee hoisting the Larry O'Brien Trophy in 2021 and Giannis being named finals MVP. With the Bucks shocking the world and winning the NBA title this year, Giannis will look to build off of that momentum with the hopes of leading Milwaukee to multiple title runs and building a long-lasting legacy as the most important player in franchise history.
With his commitment and loyalty to the organization, it's safe to say that Giannis Antetokounmpo already has a strong case as the most important player in Bucks history. His choice to stay with the Bucks long-term could also be what saves the NBA and inspires the next generation of superstars to spend their entire NBA careers playing with one team. On the other hand, Giannis could also go down one of the most influential players in NBA history as well.
