Giannis Antetokounmpo has delivered the Milwaukee Bucks their first NBA championship in 50 years with a 105-98 victory over the visiting Phoenix Suns.
With the victory, the Bucks clinched the NBA Finals 4-2 and became only the fifth team to win the best-of-seven championship series after losing the first two games.
Greek forward Giannis Antetokounmpo produced a masterpiece as he led the way for Milwaukee with a play-offs career-high 50 points to secure a championship that will surely soothe the Bucks’ recent history of post-season failure.
The achievement saw the Greek 26-year-old become just the seventh player to score 50 points in an NBA finals game.
Two-time league MVP Antetokounmpo also had 14 rebounds and five blocked shots in a dominant performance.
He was named NBA Finals MVP for a series in which he averaged 35.2 points and 13.2 rebounds.
It was the third game this series with at least 40 points and 10 rebounds for Antetokounmpo, a dominant, debut finals performance that takes its place among some of the game’s greatest.
He shot 16 for 25 from the field and made an unbelievable 17-of-19 free throws – a spectacular performance for any shooter, let alone one who was hitting just 55.6 per cent in the post-season and was ridiculed for it at times.
Antetokounmpo hopped around the court waving his arms with 20 seconds remaining to encourage fans to cheer, but it was way too late for that.
Their voices had been booming inside and outside for hours by then, having waited 50 years to celebrate a winner after Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Oscar Robertson led the Bucks to the championship in 1971.
In a season played played largely without fans, the Bucks had 65,000 of them packed into the Deer District outside, a wild party that figured to last deep into the Midwestern night.
Getty Images.
“I thank my teammates, they played hard every freaking game,” Antetokounmpo said.
“I trusted this team. I wanted to do it here in this city, I wanted to do it with these guys so I’m happy. I’m happy I am able to get it done.”
Phoenix overcame a slow start to the game and led by as many as seven points early in the third quarter but could not contain Antetokounmpo down the stretch.
Suns guard Chris Paul had a team-high 26 points to end his first NBA Finals appearance in his 16th season.
Devin Booker added 19 points but shot just 8 for 22 and missed all seven 3-pointers after scoring 40 points in each of the last two games.
The teams that came into the NBA together as expansion clubs in 1968 delivered a fine finals, with the last three games all in the balance deep into the fourth quarter.
The Bucks won them all largely because of Antetokounmpo and big efforts from Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday.
Kane
Roar Guru
Looks like Giannis was wrong again. Durant, handed the easiest job in world sports aka leading the Team USA basketball team lost again.
Snoop
Roar Rookie
I believe it’s the weights that’s affecting his shooting. He was a far better free throw shooter at a younger age from what I’ve heard. If he stays at the same lifting weight he may get some consistency back. Just my opinion
Kane
Roar Guru
I don't want to hate on the guy because he signed with the Warriors. Fact is he stacked his team and couldn't get it done. The nets total payroll cost is $230m, the salary cap is $112m
Kane
Roar Guru
Giannis has to say that after that series but Durant has never been No1 he's always been No2, just when he thought he was about to be crowned Kawhi went on to be Finals MVP then LeBron sat right back on the throne. Durant might have had an opportunity to finally sit on it this year but he let Giannis win and now Giannis is the worlds best. Giannis, you'd better keep your phone with you, Kevin might phone to see if he can join you...
Lara
Guest
After his knee hyper extension against the Hawks….I thought , game over. This guy not only recovered, he then went to overdrive. Giannis n the Bucks got the job done !!! Booker is another star….his time will come.
The Ferret
Roar Rookie
I don’t hate anyone except Lebron KD wants to win and thought his best chance were in Brooklyn. He is getting on in the years and knows that rings will be hard to come by especially with the lakers, clippers and suns in the west to beat if you make the finals if they can get past a rising knicks, philly if they can get their act together and of course a the bucks. All I have to say is as long as the Lakers are not winning I’m happy.
astro
Roar Rookie
Yep, that's true. KD's foot was on the line and the Nets lost and Bucks won. What's also true is KD is averaged 35 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists and carried the Nets to a 7th game against the eventual champs. The guy was historically great in that series. But, if you and Kane want to hate on the guy because he signed with the Warriors or the Nets, more power to you, but its your loss.
The Ferret
Roar Rookie
Could of would of should of. If only Middleton hit one more three earlier in the game and KDs foot on the line means nothing. Fact is he hit a 2 and not a three and the bucks win the whole thing.
.kraM
Roar Rookie
Precisely
Pelican
Roar Rookie
They will never be fit
Maxy
Roar Rookie
Hey 1 dog,I remember our first game of the year against the celtics,think tatum nailed a 3 pointer and there was like a 30 seconds left or something and Giannis got fouled and bricked the free throws,think it was for the win...fast forward and he what was it 17 of 19 he nailed ...in the final...sport is funny
Maxy
Roar Rookie
What a Athlete,incredible.To play with the intensity he does on both ends of the court is amazing,to be so damaging in offence and defence is the complete package.I believe this will help the Bucks going forward also.It will release the pressure off of everyone.Seeing how driven Giannis is he will want more,he will continue to work on his shooting and not have the weight of expectation weighing on his shoulders of winning a title......it is a scary thought he can become a better player still
astro
Roar Rookie
I'm pretty sure he means, if not for Durant's toe touching the line, Giannis and the Bucks are out of the playoffs (and Coach Bud is probably fired), and Durant has again proven his greatness by leading a team with a hobbled Harden, an ice-cold Harris and a group of minimum/veteran salaried role players to an ECF, and likely NBA Finals. Just the fact that Durant took that series to 7 is incredible. But if you dont believe me, ask Giannis. After that series he said "He (Durant) is still the best player in the world."
1dog
Roar Rookie
Only a year or 2 left for cp3
Kane
Roar Guru
When you say he almost got it done by himself you mean nearly got out of the second round?
.kraM
Roar Rookie
Almost did it all by himself. I’m no fan of super teams but as long all three are healthy for playoffs, they’re near unstoppable. Well done Giannis getting that chip now, might be a couple of years until he can get another.
The Ferret
Roar Rookie
You can pay for the talent… but you can’t beat the heart
Kane
Roar Guru
I like your confidence but the only time the Nets will be fully fit is the first day of preseason. There is no way Kyrie/Kevin/James manage to stay healthy all the way through the post season. We've seen it before and we saw it again, Durant can't lead a team and needs to be surrounded by superstars to win the chip. Kyrie needs to be lead and well James needs to stay in shape.
pm
Roar Rookie
Exactly. Carries way more weight than the collusion-based 'superteams' and it's good fro the NBA.
.kraM
Roar Rookie
Will contend but a fully fit big 3 at Nets takes them down in 5.