Giannis Antetokounmpo is already a winner despite 0-2 NBA Finals hole

Most thought he would by no means be right here.

In truth, many throughout NBA America ridiculed Giannis Antetokounmpo for signing a five-year, $228-million supermax contract to stay with the Milwaukee Bucks.

Followers wished him to flee the small market, unglamorous city identified for beer, brats, bowling alleys and dropping.

They wished him to hitch the AAU-NBA, the place nice gamers staff as much as kind tremendous groups within the hopes of profitable a straightforward title.

Followers wished Giannis to go to Miami, like LeBron James did. Some wished to see him be part of Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors, like Kevin Durant did.

Each gamers gained two championships by transferring on from their authentic groups.

However Antetokounmpo, born in Greece and never a spoiled hoop star from this nation, wished no a part of the add-water-and-stir NBA.

Giannis wished to win a championship, however the quaint method.

Followers mocked him and stated not solely wouldn’t he win a title, however he’d by no means make it to at least one enjoying in Milwaukee.

Many followers damned Giannis as a ringless famous person for making such a grave mistake.

However they have been ALL improper and Giannis was proper.

In truth, he has already gained — even when his staff can’t come again in opposition to the Phoenix Suns and win the NBA Finals.

Giannis has already confirmed that it’s doable to win massive on this league with out having to compromise your expertise with different stars, that he can lead an imperfect staff deep within the playoffs.

Positive, Antetokounmpo needs to win the championship. It’s cool attending to the door of the Playboy Mansion, however you need to get in and have enjoyable.

It hasn’t been a lot enjoyable for the Bucks. First, they weren’t certain if Giannis was going to play in any respect after he hyperextended his knee in opposition to the Atlanta Hawks within the Japanese Convention finals.

In some way, he performed within the first two video games — each losses — together with a 118-108 loss to the Suns in Recreation 2 of the NBA Finals in Phoenix on Thursday night time.

Antetokounmpo did his half, scoring 42 factors and grabbing 12 rebounds. Nonetheless, his staff goes again to Milwaukee down 0-2 within the best-of-seven sequence.

Chances are high that the Bucks gained’t have the ability to rally to win this as a staff. However from Giannis’ standpoint, he proved what he got down to do.

He proved he can lead a staff.

Higher but, he has proven different potential gamers that Milwaukee isn’t that dangerous in any case.

Don’t overlook that two of the best gamers ever within the league gained up there. Lew Alcindor, now referred to as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Oscar Robertson gained the championship for the Bucks in 1971.

And right here is Giannis, 50 years later, saying it may be finished once more.

For certain, promoting Milwaukee to a different star participant can be lots simpler now. Giannis has proven what he can do. All he’d should do is persuade one other participant that he could be the lacking piece.

That’s how the Bucks gained. They traded for The Huge O. He joined Alcindor and the remainder is historical past.

The Bucks aren’t any totally different from massive metropolis, poorly run franchises. The New York Knicks haven’t gained a title since 1973. And there are such a lot of different stops within the league extra interesting than Milwaukee, however are in the identical boat.

Heck, the Suns, regardless of the nice and cozy climate, have been round for 52 years and by no means gained a title. Bear in mind, they even had Charles Barkley again in 1993, the final time they went to the Finals.

The underside line stays that Giannis didn’t observe the cool children at school. He caught to his perception that profitable the place he was drafted will ultimately be the sweetest prize.

The naysayers have been quiet. They hate to confess they may wind up being so improper. However they’re able to pounce, assault if the Bucks lose the championship.

However earlier than they bury the Bucks, they need to rethink doubting Giannis.

Don’t overlook that Giannis was down 0-2 to the Brooklyn Nets within the second spherical, however gained 4 of the following 5 video games to shock the Nets and get to the convention finals.

Now, he’s within the Finals — one other place of us gave him no shot at.

Once more, Giannis has gained. Simply admit it.