In reality, the Milwaukee Bucks probably are questioning how long the most important player in franchise history will remain with the team. Outwardly, they express confidence about Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s future in Milwaukee. Yet, at this point of his career, the soon-to-be 31-year-old is candid about his desire to win another championship. Right now, the Bucks don’t look like the team that’ll allow him to do that.
That being said, while it may not be the Larry O’Brien, there is another trophy that he could hold up this season. Rebranded as the Michael Jordan Trophy in December 2022, the NBA MVP Award is calling Antekounmpo’s name as he stares down the barrel of a particularly trying season.
Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo Predicted To Win NBA MVP
“I’m gonna go Giannis MVP,” former NBA star Blake Griffin tells Post Moves hosts Candace Parker and Aliyah Boston after being asked his pick to win the 2025-26 NBA MVP Award.
“I think his team can still be top-four in the East,” he continues. “And I also think without sort of the help that he’s had around him, like he’s going to be playing close to 40 minutes a night. And I think he’s going to like, maybe accept that challenge and you know, average 30 and 49 and whatever, whatever ungodly numbers he puts up.”
Heavy Lifting
Since 2017-18, Antetokounmpo has posted a preposterous 29.2 points, 11.7 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 1.2 blocks and 1.1 steals per game. He’s tallied at least 26 points, 10 rebounds and four assists in each of those seasons. The antithesis of what one would expect in the 3-point era, he’s only made 28.6 percent of his threes in that time. Yet, his freakish physical characteristics lend themselves to him being ultra-efficient with him shooting 56.9 percent from the field.
Now, he’ll be playing his first full season without either Khris Middleton or Damian Lillard.
The 24-year-old Middleton was traded last season due to concerns about his durability and decline. However, Middleton was a technically sound scorer who averaged 19.9 points per game on .464-.386-.884 shooting splits from 2017-18 to 2021-22. Even with serious questions about his health, he averaged 24.7 points per game in the 2024 NBA Playoffs. Lillard proved to be an awkward fit after the Bucks traded for him in the 2023 offseason. Nonetheless, the nine-time All-Star still averaged 24.6 points and 7.0 assists per game in his time with Milwaukee.
Nothing Was The Same
Middleton and Lillard have effectively been replaced by Kyle Kuzma and Cole Anthony, respectfully. Neither have been as impactful as their predecessors.
Kuzma has a career scoring average of 17.0 points per game, topping out at 22.2 points per game as the No. 1 option for the hapless Washington Wizards. His playoff career-high is just 10.0 points per game. Anthony has a career average of 12.5 points per game, nearly half of what Lillard averaged for the Bucks. So, to Griffin’s point, there’s an expectation that Antetokounmpo will be doing more heavy lifting than years previous.
It’s also worth mentioning that players like Gary Trent Jr. and Kevin Porter Jr. are capable of stepping into larger roles. Myles Turner will likely score more than Brook Lopez. Nonetheless, they’re missing the type of high-end talent that they’re used to.
On the one hand, this could be the tipping point in his decision about staying with the team. On the other hand, it could aid his MVP case. Keep in mind, Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic is generally regarded as a player who has to carry his team. This is reflected in otherworldly stat lines that boost his public profile and the perception that he’s an MVP candidate. In fact, he’s had five consecutive top-two finishes in the MVP race, winning the award three times.
The Buck In The Room
“It’s never Giannis that is determining MVP or not, because his numbers are always going to be ridiculous,” Parker retorts following. “It is literally his team. So, if his team is not top four in the East, which I think is going to be pretty difficult, I think it’s very hard to get MVP.”
As Parker smartly notes, expecting this version of the Bucks to be a top-four in-conference, is a difficult ask. However, using Jokic as a frame of reference again, the Serbian superstar has been able to do just that. In fact, they’ve only finished outside the top-four in the West one time since 2018.
With that being said, the Eastern Conference is particularly vulnerable right now, as multiple contenders are on one leg. The Boston Celtics will be without Jayson Tatum (Achilles) for an extended period. The Indiana Pacers are planning to sit Tyrese Haliburton (Achilles) out for the entirety of 2025-26. Nobody is quite sure if Philadelphia 76ers stars Joel Embiid (knee) and Paul George (knee) will hold up next season.
Barring an injury, like the Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks are probably going to dominate. But after that it’s anyone’s game.
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