Injured forward Giannis Antetokounmpo came in full support of the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Atlanta Hawks, and sure enough, he was absolutely hyped when the team got the job done.
Celebrating with his teammates on the court after the huge 118-107 victory that gave them their ticket to the NBA Finals, Giannis also made sure to show Khris Middleton his appreciation for leading the Bucks in his absence.
A hyped Giannis was seen sharing a moment with Middleton, with head coach Mike Budenholzer also coming to give the forward a well-deserved acknowledgement.
Giannis Antetokounmpo and Mike Budenholzer celebrate Bucks’ first Finals appearance since 1974 with hearty bear hugs for Khris Middleton pic.twitter.com/ZZ6McwdXdk
— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) July 4, 2021
Khris Middleton was undoubtedly the X-factor that propelled the Bucks in Games 5 and 6. While there were initial doubts if he can carry the load alone in the absence of Giannis Antetokounmpo–who is recovering from a hyperextended left knee–the 29-year-old proved more than just that as he also showed he is a legitimate superstar.
In their closeout contest, Middleton dropped 32 points on top of four rebounds, seven assists and three steals. Sure, he did have seven turnovers, but his 23-point third quarter was more than enough for the Bucks to keep their lead despite his mistakes.
While it's a little unfortunate Giannis was not on the court to contribute in the win, he is certainly happy to see Middleton get unleashed and reached another level. After all, that should bode well in their title aspirations when they face an equally talented and deep Phoenix Suns squad in the NBA Finals.