The Dominance of Giannis Antetokounmpo
It’s official: Giannis Antetokounmpo is the GOAT.
Okay, okay, okay. Maybe not yet, but boy does it look like he’s charging head-on into the debate. What this freak (who happens to be Greek) just did in the NBA Finals is basically unparalleled in the history of the sport, and he’s only 26. And he’s already won a Defensive Player of the Year award. And he’s already made five All Star teams. And he’s already won TWO MVPs. This dude is special, and anyone who was doubting him sure looks stupid now. I have been a big Giannis supporter since circa 2015, and he has just gotten better and better each year. But for some unknown reason, this jubilant giant of a man has received a lot of hate through his ascension to superstardom. First they said his teams in Milwaukee sucked, so he won 60 games with them. Then they said he couldn’t win in the playoffs, so he went to the Conference Finals. Then they said, sure, he’s great and all and the team has won with him, but he has no skill. Ugh. What does that even mean? How can you look at a guy with TWO MVPs who averages over 25 a game and say he has no skill? What even is skill if it’s not being a dominant force in the top basketball league in the world?
So, undoubtedly, Giannis began to feel a little bit of pressure. His contract was going to expire soon, and the new craze amongst NBA stars was forming superteams. The Lakers were tossed about, as was Golden State. Maybe he’d go to Miami and build a new superteam, or even some other star-laden roster. But Giannis decided to stay put and sign a max extension with the Bucks, a move that disappointed analysts across the networks. And you know what? It paid off. He won it all and shoved it in everyone’s face, claiming he did it the “hard way” (no doubt a shot at the plethora of other stars who have fled to places such as, oh, I don’t know, Brooklyn).
If you haven’t been able to tell already, I’m a bit of an old head when it comes to the NBA. I hate superteams. I think they’re cheap and take away from the beauty of team basketball. Wait, did a Warriors fan seriously just get on his high horse about superteams? Yeah yeah, I know, but I’ll have you all know I was anti-KD when he signed with us! Anyways...because Giannis stayed in Wisconsin of all places and won with one All-Star teammate, his season and subsequent playoff run becomes all the more impressive to me. His second-best teammate shot 4-19 in the closing game of the Finals. This man carried his team to a ring, so give him his dang flowers!
If you’re not sure what you just read, it’s okay. I don’t really know what I just wrote. But I’ve been thinking about Giannis and his greatness all week and I just had to throw my thoughts on paper (or screen). And so my final take on Giannis? Alithos anesti.
