Giannis Antetokounmpo’s performance in the Emirates NBA Cup Final was exceptional, as he recorded a triple-double with 26 points, 19 rebounds and 10 assists to lead the Bucks to a decisive 97-81 victory over the best team in the West, the Oklahoma City Thunder. His efforts were instrumental in securing the championship and earning him MVP honors for the tournament. Giannis is having an MVP campaign and also a Defensive Player of the Year season. In the 2019-20 season, he won both awards, joining Michael Jordan (1987-88) and Hakeem Olajuwon (1993-94) as the only players to do so. This year, Giannis could become the first player to win both awards twice.
Giannis Has Already Spent his $500,000 From the NBA Cup
As champions of the NBA Cup, the Bucks players received not only the trophy, but also a cash prize of $514,971. For some players, like Giannis and Damian Lillard, the amount may mean little, but for others, it feels like an early Christmas present from Santa Claus. Giannis, the NBA Cup MVP, confirmed that he won’t even see the money because it’s already been spent on his kids. “I have three kids, I have to go Christmas shopping, and I have a kid on the way, diapers are expensive, so the money’s already gone,” he said. This confirms that Giannis and his wife, Mariah Riddlesprigger, are expecting their fourth child. They currently have sons Liam and Maverick and daughter Eva.
No doubt diapers are expensive, but come on Giannis, how are you going to spend $500,000 on them? Obviously it was a joke and diapers are necessary, but that seems like an exaggerated amount. Still, there’s no doubt that Giannis will spend the money on gifts for his three kids and something special for his wife. Moreover, money isn’t a problem for Giannis, as he ranks 12th in total money earned this season with just over $48 million, exactly the same amount as his teammate Damian Lillard. Lillard, for his part, said he would share the money with the Bucks’ training staff or use it to support them, showing great leadership by giving this reward to those who support the team but often go unrecognized.
Bucks’ Turnaround Fueled by Giannis’ MVP Play
The Bucks have taken a very different path from the one they started the season on, and this win against one of the best teams in the league, along with the trophy, will give them even more confidence for the rest of the year. With this win, Giannis knows he can win his second championship, even though there’s still a lot of season left and they’ll probably have to beat the champions Boston Celtics. The Bucks had started 2-8, their worst start since 2000-01 when they made it to the conference finals but lost to Allen Iverson’s 76ers. There were even rumors that they might trade Giannis, which clearly won’t happen. I see Giannis retiring with the Bucks as the best player in franchise history, surpassing even Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Okay, maybe I’m getting ahead of myself, but it wouldn’t be a surprise.
Giannis was at one of the franchise’s lowest points as a rookie. That season, the Bucks finished 15-67, the worst record in franchise history. So the horrible start in the first 10 games didn’t worry him. The Bucks have won 13 of their last 16 games since with Giannis playing at an MVP level, an award he will compete with Nikola Jokic for all season but he has been even better on the defensive side. Giannis leads the league in points per game (32.7), ranks fifth in rebounds (11.5), and in addition to being one of the league’s best defenders, he’s truly been a Greek Freak so far this season. The NBA Cup MVP award adds to his already impressive resume. At 30 years old, Giannis is a 2-time NBA Most Valuable Player, NBA Champion, Finals MVP and Defensive Player of the Year.
