Our Simone Sandri, one of the twenty journalists who made up the jury, explains why Milwaukee’s leader was unanimously considered the best of the tournament
This year too I was part of the jury made up of 20 journalists who awarded the NBA Cup MVP award but if in the first edition of the event there could have been any doubt about the winner, between LeBron James, who then triumphed (and who I voted for ) and Antony Davis, on Tuesday the result immediately appeared absolutely obvious. So it’s no surprise that Giannis Antetokounmpo won unanimously.
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The Greek capped off an absolutely stellar tournament by closing the final with a triple double (29 points, 19 rebounds and 10 assists) and dominating the painted area on both sides of the court. Giannis, in addition to being Milwaukee’s clear leader, is also the emblem of the Bucks’ recovery in the standings who, after starting with the handbrake on, 2-8 in the first 10, also taking advantage of the enthusiasm of the “cup” matches, have radically changed gear by winning 13 of the last 16 races. Giannis was absolutely decisive in all the NBA Cup matches, starting from the qualifying round, then leading his team to Las Vegas thanks to a crazy performance (37 points, seven rebounds and four blocks) in the quarter-finals against the Magic . In Sin City, the former NBA MVP didn’t give anyone any discounts, carrying the Bucks on his shoulders in the semifinal against the Hawks, flirting with another triple double: 32 points, 14 rebounds and nine assists. Then on Tuesday evening in the final, the Greek put the NBA Cup MVP award in the icebox, as well as the success in the tournament, changing gear in the third quarter to leave only crumbs to the Thunder frontline. It’s really impossible not to vote for him.