After proving all the doubters wrong and winning the 2021 NBA championship, the Milwaukee Bucks and Khris Middleton are looking to win back-to-back titles and rule the NBA once again in 2022. Especially after a highly productive offseason where they kept they core intact and brought back key rotation players while also adding some quality depth to their roster.
With two-time league MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo looking to add to his Hall-Of-Fame resume and Khris Middleton having proven himself as a clutch playoff performer, the sky's the limit for this deep any dynamic Bucks team. Not to mention Jrue Holiday came through huge for them with his timely playmaking on both ends of the floor all last season. Let's now take a look at who the x factor for the Milwaukee Bucks will be during the 2021-22 NBA season, and it won't be Khris Middleton.
Bucks' X Factor: Giannis Antetokounmpo
Despite posting averages of 35.2 points, 13.2 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.8 blocks during the 2021 NBA Finals and being named finals MVP, Giannis Antetokounmpo will still be the Milwaukee Bucks' x factor heading into next season. He has without question grown into a bona fide superstar and is a future first-ballot Hall-Of-Famer.
However, his struggles and inconsistencies during previous playoff runs have led to their demise. If the Bucks want to repeat as NBA champions in 2022, then it starts with Giannis because he's the motor that makes this team go. As the driving force behind their success, he led them to victory through thick and thin, and many times the Bucks won in an ugly manner.
With his drive and perseverance though, the rest of the team followed and was able to produce when he wasn't having the best scoring night. As their defensive anchor and primary scorer down low, Giannis must always be playing with a sense of urgency and poise so that he can be both an effective leader and role model to his teammates.
During the 2020 NBA Playoffs, he completely fizzled out and the rest of the team collapsed as a result. After witnessing a complete turnaround in 2021, Giannis now knows what is expected of him if he wants to lead the Bucks on another NBA title run in 2022. The competition will be stiff thanks to a new and improved Eastern Conference, but given what he and the Bucks just achieved this past season, they've proven that there's no obstacle they can't overcome if they continue to play sound, team basketball.
Given how far he has already come this early into his playing career, Giannis Antetokounmpo has a lot going for him and will have a very bright future in this league. If he ever were to develop a consistently good jump shot then the rest of the league is in deep trouble. As arguably the best defensive player in the league and an absolute force of nature on the glass, a solid 3-point shot and mid-range game would make Giannis the most complete player in the league and would elevate his greatness even further.
So if the Bucks want to repeat the same level of success during the 2021-22 NBA season, then Giannis Antetokounmpo will have to continually improve and expand his game while leading the charge in Milwaukee. This in-turn makes him the true and central X-factor for the Milwaukee Bucks heading into the 2021-22 NBA season.
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