MILWAUKEE. – Call him Robin, or Batman, but make sure to call Giannis Antetokounmpo champion.
Antetokounmpo scored 50 points to carry the Milwaukee Bucks to the 2021 NBA title with a 105-98 win over the visiting Phoenix Suns on Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila).
With the big man’s longtime sidekick, Khris Middleton, standing tall in clutch moments, the franchise captured the Larry O’Brien Trophy for the first time since 1971.
“There was a job that had to be finished. . . Give the Miami Heat credit, but the bubble didn’t do us justice,” Antetokounmpo said of the 2020 playoffs near Orlando. “Coming back, I was like, ‘This is my city. They believe in me. They believe in us. I want to get the job done.’
“That’s my stubborn side. It’s easy to go to a super team and win a championship, play my part. It’s easy. But this is my team. We did it.”
The 26-year-old Greek star began last season facing public doubt about whether he would stay with a small-market franchise. Antetokounmpo ignored the outside input, signed a long-term deal and committed to building a “championship culture” with the Bucks.
He received the Bill Russell NBA finals MVP award after averaging 35.2 points and 13.2 rebounds against Phoenix. He had 33 points in the second half of Game 6 and wound up with his third 40-plus-point game in the series as the Bucks sealed it.
“Just believe. I hope I give people around the world– from Africa, from Europe– hope. I’m a champion,” Antetokounmpo said in a teary press conference, thanking his mother for instilling a stubborn work ethic and never pressuring him to swerve away from basketball.
“I hope this can give everybody around the world hope (to) believe in your dreams.”
Middleton made two free throws with 44.7 seconds left to give the Bucks a 104-96 advantage. On the previous possession, moving to his right from the top of the key, Middleton took a handoff from Antetokounmpo at full stride, rose and knocked down a clutch jumper with 56.9 seconds left, putting Milwaukee up 102-96.
“He played amazing for us; he led us when I was down,” Antetokounmpo said. “Once we are done enjoying this, we’ve got to get back to work. Build off this. Hopefully, we can do it again.”
Middleton acknowledged that both players are stubborn, which serves them to step up when a personal challenge from a teammate is on the table.
“I don’t care about what other people say. At the end of the day, we knew what we needed to do in this locker room,” Middleton said. “We challenge each other every day. To be better leaders. Be better teammates.”
The final minute was a microcosm of Antetokounmpo and Middleton’s relationship, head coach Mike Budenholzer pointed out. Even with Antetokounmpo carrying the offense with nearly half of its total production in Game 6, Middleton landed the finishing blows– much as he did in leading the Bucks back from a nine-point deficit in the fourth quarter of Game 4.
