{"id":19476,"date":"2021-03-08T04:37:26","date_gmt":"2021-03-08T10:37:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/?p=19476"},"modified":"2021-03-08T04:37:43","modified_gmt":"2021-03-08T10:37:43","slug":"giannis-antetokounmpo-perfect-in-nba-all-star-game-win-nabs-nba-all-star-game-mvp","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/?p=19476","title":{"rendered":"Giannis Antetokounmpo, perfect in NBA ALL-STAR GAME win, nabs NBA All-Star Game MVP"},"content":{"rendered":"

Giannis Antetokounmpo in rarified air with Michael Jordan after All-Star Game MVP win<\/h1>\n
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Milwaukee Bucks<\/a> superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo<\/a> has always said he wants to be one of the NBA\u2019s elite. Well, there\u2019s no doubt he already is. But after Sunday\u2019s NBA All-Star Game, he climbed a notch higher as he joined the elite of the elites: Michael Jordan<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

After leading The West All-Stars to an easy 170-150 win over The Eastern all-Stars, Giannis earned his first NBA All-Star Game MVP trophy after tallying numbers of 35 points on an INSANE (caps lock for extra emphasis) 16-of-16 shooting from the field, seven rebounds, three assists, a steal, and a block.<\/strong><\/p>\n

With his latest accolade, he tied MJ as one of the only players in NBA history to win a regular season MVP, All-Star Game MVP, and Defensive Player of the Year trophy.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Giannis Antetokounmpo joins Michael Jordan as one of the only players to win an MVP, All-Star Game MVP and Defensive Player of the Year award in their careers.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Giannis, who played in his fifth NBA All-Star Game, started the ball rolling for The East. He set the tone with his aggressive attacks and even played defense early on, a mortal sin to some when it comes to the midseason contest.<\/strong><\/p>\n

He wasn\u2019t named as a captain this year as he relinquished the role to Brooklyn Nets<\/a> star Kevin Durant<\/a>, and it looks like having less pressure worked wonders for the Greek Freak as he was able to simply enjoy the contest and cherish the moment with his son.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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“It’s fun. I was happy. My teammates had fun.” pic.twitter.com\/XBpAPiPx2H<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2014 Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) March 8, 2021<\/a><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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At only 26 years old<\/a>, Giannis Antetokounmpo still has multiple years to suit up in the NBA All-Star Game. And perhaps soon enough, he will tie the great Michael Jordan with three All-Star Game MVPs as well.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Giannis Anteto<\/strong>kounmpo shows value and values with All-Star MVP<\/h1>\n
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Giannis Antetokounmpo<\/a> ended his press conference Sunday by lifting the Kobe Bryant All-Star MVP trophy over his head and saying with a mock-shouting tone: \u201cMilwaukee, this is for you!!!\u201d He broke into laughter, removed his headphones and told someone off camera, \u201cI was supposed to do that.\u201d Still smiling big, he again lifted the trophy and exclaimed: \u201cMilwaukee, this is for you!\u201d<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

This is the Bucks\u2019 dream.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Antetokounmpo can enjoy playing on a super team<\/a>. But he can limit that experience the All-Star game. His loyalty, as proven by his super-max extension<\/a>, remains with Milwaukee.<\/strong><\/p>\n

And his passion \u2013 as shown by scoring 35 points on 16-of-16 shooting in leading Team LeBron to victory<\/a> \u2013 remains strong.<\/strong><\/p>\n

At this point in his career, Antetokounmpo is coming<\/a> under<\/a> the<\/a> microscope<\/a>. Signing his extension quieted some noise<\/a>, but not nearly all of it. Antetokounmpo has won the last two regular-season MVPs, leading the Bucks to 60 wins two years ago and an even better record last season. But the Bucks have faltered the last two postseasons. They dropped four straight to the Raptors in the 2019 Eastern Conference finals then got smoked by the Heat in last year\u2019s second round.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Fairly or not, Antetokounmpo now can silence his critics only by succeeding in the playoffs.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Against that backdrop, who\u2019d care about an All-Star game \u2013 especially amid the coronavirus pandemic<\/a>? Since NBA playoff games stopped being aired on tape-delay, only one other player had won regular-season MVP then All-Star MVP without first winning a championship \u2013 Allen Iverson.<\/strong><\/p>\n

But Antetokounmpo isn\u2019t allowing himself to be haunted by prior disappointments. Once on the court \u2013 like the previous two All-Star<\/a> games<\/a> \u2013 his competitiveness and spirit took over.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Antetokounmpo\u2019s 16 shots are the second-most ever in a game \u2013 regular-season, playoff or All-Star \u2013 by someone who didn\u2019t miss:<\/strong><\/p>\n

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All the other perfect-shooting games on the leaderboard came in the regular season. Antetokounmpo doubled the prior All-Star record. 76ers guard Hal Greer shot 8-for-8 in 1968.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sure, luck was involved. In addition to his ferocious dunks, Antetokounmpo made all three of his 3-pointers \u2013 including banking in a couple.<\/strong><\/p>\n

But even a miss wouldn\u2019t have changed the tenor of Antetokounmpo\u2019s performance. He was playing great and having a blast.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Antetokounmpo has proven his work ethic and determination<\/a>. He is clearly focused more on team success than individual accolades<\/a>. We should appreciate his dazzling showing Sunday. It detracts from nothing.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Even as he cradled the All-Star MVP trophy \u2013 named for Bryant, whom Antetokounmpo idolized<\/a> \u2013 the Bucks forward kept perspective.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cMy goal is to be a champion one day,\u201d Antetokounmpo said. \u201cHopefully, we can hold the big trophy.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n