THE MILWAUKEE BUCKS ARE NBA CHAMPIONS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 50 YEARS
Last week, the Milwaukee Bucks saw their first NBA championship in 50 years. Their historic win was led by star-studded player Giannis Antetokounmpo who scored 50 points against the Phoenix Suns.
Antetokounmpo, who took home MVP for his amazing performance, also had 14 rebounds and five blocked shots. They took all hope away from the Suns with a 105-98 win. Notably, Khris Middleton contributed 17 points, and Bobby Portis had 16.
Antetokounmpo was the first player to have at least 40 points, ten rebounds, and five blocks in a Finals’ game since blocks were first recorded in 1974, the NBA tweeted. He became the seventh player to have at least 50 points in the championship round.
Giannis is the 1st player to reach 40 points, 10 boards and 5 blocks in a Finals game since blocks began being recorded in 1974. #ThatsGame #NBAFinals on ABC pic.twitter.com/RciKT31SwP
— NBA (@NBA) July 21, 2021
“I want to thank Milwaukee for believing in me, thank my teammates,” said Antetokounmpo after accepting the Finals MVP award. “They played hard every freaking game. 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 that we were able to get it done.”
Bucks Coach Mike Budenholzer praised the Suns, but of course, he couldn’t say enough about his own team.
“These players, they’re champions every day,” he told NBA Finals broadcaster ABC. “Every day they come to the building they are champions. They’ve embraced getting better every day, they’ve embraced competing, they’ve embraced playing together. And it’s made them champions tonight. I couldn’t be more proud of them.”
The Bucks led the Suns 101-99 with 1:15 remaining in the fourth quarter of Game 4. Antetokounmpo defended Devin Booker off a dribble handoff. Booker then threw a lob up to DeAndre Ayton that should have tied the game, but Antetokounmpo stopped that from happening. After, he blocked Ayton’s dunk attempt to preserve the lead and secured the win.
