I know an awful lot of people who have soured on the NBA over the course of the last decade. Whether it’s the flopping, the concept of the “super team,” or some politically-motivated sentiment (making things about politics despite telling players to “stick to sports”), the perception of the NBA among my social circle seems to be that it’s bad and that NBA players are just divas. I can concede a little bit here – it does feel like the NBA has become a more player-centric league, and it’s less about the blind loyalty and pack mentality fans have with their home team. But, by and large, the NBA bucked that trend in a major way this postseason. The Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, and Brooklyn Nets all missed out on the NBA Finals. With the lone exception of the Clippers, none of these “super teams” even made their respective conference finals. Instead, we had teams like the Atlanta Hawks, Phoenix Suns, and Milwaukee Bucks showing us all that you can still win in the NBA by building around homegrown talent. No one is a better example of this than the Bucks and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Since entering the league in 2013, Antetokounmpo has built quite the resumé, earning two NBA MVP awards (2019 and 2020), and Defensive Player of the Year (2020). He’s also on a run of five straight NBA All-Star Game appearances, and three straight All-NBA First Team nods. He’s fully grown into the potential that made him a first round pick all those years ago. When faced with the potential to explore free agency, he ultimately chose to stay with the team that drafted him, citing that he wanted to stay and help bring a championship to Milwaukee. That was a rare thing back then, at a time when superstars were coordinating where to go next with other superstars in an effort to boost their championship odds. But, I think it provides some real insight into this man’s character.
With the trend being to leave the team that drafted you to go chase titles in Los Angeles, Brooklyn, or the Golden State, Antetokounmpo stayed with the Bucks. And, I’ll be damned – he did it. He brought that NBA Championship to Milwaukee. There’s a difference in winning and building a championship. He and this Bucks team built this championship, and that makes it mean infinitely more. What a sweet, sweet moment for them and for the city of Milwaukee. Antetokounmpo’s performance itself was otherworldly. The dude was injured prior to the series, questionable for Game 1. The Suns jumped up to a 2-0 lead, and the basketball world began to crown them champions. People were saying that “Giannis can’t put this team on his back.” But, he played through – he wasn’t 100% percent by any means, but he put the team on his back and delivered a performance for the ages, scoring 50 points in the decisive Game 6 in Milwaukee.
This slow-motion clip of Jrue Holiday’s alley-oop to Giannis Antetokounmpo is Oscar worthy….
— Bench Bros Sports (@benchbrossports) July 18, 2021
pic.twitter.com/i9rkid5BzY
Adding to his legend, Antetokounmpo spent the following morning ordering 50 chicken minis from Chick-Fil-A. This was a win for Milwaukee, but it was a win for small markets everywhere. Superstars don’t usually stick in markets like that. You could tell that it meant a lot to that city, just as we know a Titans Super Bowl win would mean the world here in Nashville. And, maybe Antetokounmpo’s loyalty and sense of pride in the team that drafted him will set an example for superstars moving forward. No matter how you slice it – it’s been quite awhile since an NBA title was this hard-earned and well-deserved. It was special. It was historic. It was the stuff that legends are made of, and time won’t soon forget how Giannis Antetokounmpo put the 2021 Milwaukee Bucks on his back and went on a run for the ages.
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network, and a Dogs Playing Poker on velvet connoisseur. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD, #BeBetter, and ‘Minds right, asses tight.’ “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Nashville, Yankee Candle, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley
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