Giannis Antetokounmpo delivered a legendary performance in Game 3 of the NBA Finals, scoring 41 points and adding 13 rebounds in the Milwaukee Bucks’ rout of the Phoenix Suns.

With his dominant game, Antetokounmpo helped the Bucks win their first Finals contest since 1974. The five-time All-Star also became the second player in NBA history to produce a 40-point double-double in consecutive NBA Finals contests.

By posting back-to-back historical outings, Antetokounmpo silenced unwarranted criticism from former NBA player Kendrick Perkins.  Perkins, an analyst for ESPN and NBC Sports Boston, claimed (again) after Game 2 that Antetokounmpo was the “Robin” of the Bucks, while teammate Khris Middleton was the “Batman.” Perkins has asserted that Middleton is the Batman of the Bucks multiple times throughout the playoffs because of his ability to take over games offensively.

Perkins’ silly remarks came off the heels of a 42-point, 12-rebound effort from Antetokounmpo. A two-time MVP, Antetokounmpo has long been the man running the show for the Eastern Conference champion Bucks.

That’s not a knock on Middleton, a two-time All-Star who has been excellent for Milwaukee during its deepest playoff run in nearly 50 years. Middleton took over for the Bucks in Games 5 and 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals with Antetokounmpo sidelined with a hyperextended knee.

While Middleton has played at an elite level for much of the postseason, there’s no rational argument to claim that Antetokounmpo is the sidekick of the club. Antetokounmpo is by far the top guy on the Bucks—and the best player of the 2021 NBA Finals, for that matter.

StatMuse even fired off a subtweet at Perkins after Game 3, which properly illustrated Antetokounmpo’s dominance.

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While Antetokounmpo is the Batman of the Bucks, it’s still an honor for Middleton to be the sidekick/Robin of the club. When the Los Angeles Lakers captured three straight titles from 2000-02, Kobe Bryant was the sidekick, while Shaquille O’Neal was the Batman. After all, it was O’Neal who won all three Finals MVPs and earned NBA MVP honors in 2000. Bryant being the second-best player on the Lakers did not hurt his legacy by any means, to say the least.

Speaking of O’Neal, Perkins referenced the legendary center as he praised Antetokounmpo’s Game 3 masterpiece.

Perhaps Antetokounmpo’s latest showing changed Perkins’ opinion on who is truly the top dog in Milwaukee. And Perkins was right to evoke the O’Neal comparison on Sunday night—as Giannis Antetokounmpo became the first player to score over 25 points in the paint with 10 second-chance points in the Finals since O’Neal achieved the feat in 2000.

Regardless of if Perkins has reversed course on his line of thinking, what’s most important for Antetokounmpo is he's one victory closer to his first NBA title. The Bucks’ Batman will look to lead his squad to a series-tying win on Wednesday night.