Spiros Velliniates, a basketball coach at a local Athens club, discovered Giannis on a playground in Greece and began the search for him. Giannis Antetokounmpo: (02:16) You know obviously everybody we know that were going to go down [inaudible 00:04:05] everybodys concerned about how safe its going to be. If you have a good parent, your parent sees the future for you. Lori Nickel: (03:43) Im happy. Obviously we didnt have time to practice as much as we wanted to, but now that we are able to get back and play, practice and shoot around, shoot a little bit its kind of like helping us get back to where we were before the season got canceled. Antetokounmpo had at least 40 points and 10 rebounds in three of the six games in this series. So weve got to be prepared for that because I dont know if Like we play, like we travel so much, but even on the road you can bring your family. (At BetMGM, he is a distant third at +750 behind Nikola Jokic's -300 and Joel Embiid's +275). So yeah, I dont know what to expect when I get there, but at the end of the day I want to play basketball. The most powerful moments of the speech came when Antetokounmpo discussed his family, starting with his father, who died of a heart attack in Oct. 2017. Next up: Championship. "I want to thank Milwaukee for believing in me," he said. Giannis Antetokounmpo: (08:37) And I know the NBA and the NBPA worked together to make this place as safe as possible. What does this title do for whoever comes out on top of this with everything they have to go through? You talked about flipping the switch a little bit and competing for a title, but you also honestly talked about Mariah and Liam and probably not seeing them for most if not the entire run. Always want more and never be greedy. Zuora Stevenson: (14:45) #MambaMentality https://t.co/dhZTFI1Aam, Kobe Bryant wrote on Twitter, "My man.M.V.P. I think I've had people throughout my life that helped me with that. So in my head I was like, Okay, I know the NBA is going to make that decision and the safest decision for us. But at the end of the day, I got to be ready. So whoever wants it more is going to be able to go out there and take it. So its going to be mental. Antetokounmpo was an easy choice for the MVP honor after also adding 14 rebounds and five blocks in a series-clinching 105-98 Game 6 victory Tuesday night over the Phoenix Suns. section: | slug: nba-finals-bucks-giannis-antetokounmpo-backs-up-viral-humility-speech-with-unselfish-game-5-performance | sport: basketball | route: article_single.us | I cant imagine going there for three months, I think the game is going to be played mentally a lot. Get a weekly digest of the weeks most important transcripts in your inbox. Greatness. Giannis Antetokounmpo may have won the NBAs 2019 Most Valuable Player award, but it was the embrace he shared with his family that had everyone talking. Transcripts & captions for a better media workflow. Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo has a chance to win his third MVP award. And whoever plays the best because at the end of the day teams got to be in shape. Industry-leading accurate legal transcription to ensure you dont miss a statement. I kind of feel like being at home and Im really competitive as a person. They played hard every fricking game. Malika Andrews: (06:18) Youve got to push yourself through this. Good to see you. The Greek Freak won the award after a dominant season in which he led the Milwaukee Bucks to the best regular season record in the NBA while averaging 27.7 points, 12.9 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game. They've grown from unheralded youngsters into Milwaukee legends together. 2004-2023 CBS Interactive. I am honored and humbled to receive the MVP award. Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks speaks at the podium as U.S. President Joe Biden welcomes the Milwaukee Bucks to the South Lawn of the White House to honor the team for its NBA. I feel like at the end of the day this is going to be the toughest championship you could ever win. ", Life lessons with @Giannis_An34. Giannis Antetokounmpo's MVP Acceptance Speech | NBA.com Giannis Antetokounmpo's MVP Acceptance Speech The media could not be loaded, either because the server or network failed or because the. I think were a great team, great players, we have great chemistry on the court and off the court. Shes the foundation of this family. The ball was batted into the air, and Giannis could have easily secured it with two hands. Durant, a four-time scoring champion, now sets his sights on Hakeem Olajuwon in 12th place. Im curious you have a newborn son at home, you went out of your way to participate in marches, supporting the black lives matter movement in Milwaukee. The 24-year-old. Can you hear me? Giannis Antetokounmpo: (12:04) And also, do you feel like perhaps you guys have lost a little momentum now that its been a few months since youve played together now going back and resuming the season? After the most thrilling play of the NBA Finals -- when Holiday stole the ball from Devin Booker and then threw a lob to Antetokounmpo, who was fouled while completing the dunk -- Giannis missed the free throw. As long as everybodys on the same page and as long as everybodys fighting for the same thing, fighting for the same thing every single day, which is to be a champion, I dont see why not to be in Milwaukee for the next 15 years, he said. Obviously you go somewhere without your family for four months, three months and you havent played basketball for three and a half, four months. He came into Game 5 averaging 3.6 screen assists per game in the playoffs, up from 2.8 in the regular season, according to NBA.com. Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks has been named this year's NBA MVP, his second consecutive year winning the award, the league announced Friday. Washington Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma. This guy doesnt really know how much he pushed me. Giannis shouts out Middleton after winning Finals MVP. Thank you for everything you do for me., And of course, Antetokounmpo couldnt leave out the person he called my true hero., "I want to thank my amazing mom, my amazing mom. Extend your content reach and maximize your engagement rates. In his speech, he thanked his family for supporting him and his teammates for pushing him to be the best player he could be. Only Olajuwon (1993-94) and Jordan (1987-88) won both the MVP and Defensive Player of the Year awards in the same season. Read the transcript here. First, Giannis could have easily forced his way to the basket in transition to try to get a layup or get fouled, but instead, he recognized that he had drawn three Suns defenders and fired a beautiful one-handed, no-look laser to the corner for a wide-open Portis 3-pointer. "I'm happy, I'm happy, man. My goal is to win a championship and we're going to do whatever we can to make that happen. Giannis Antetokounmpo: (15:03) Speaking of that kind of idea, theres times when you dont love speaking with us on game days, because you dont want to give another team bulletin board material. Good. And then on the emotional side of things, kind of where are your spirits now? Oh, blackout. The Bucks blew a 2-0 lead to Toronto in the 2019 Eastern Conference finals, then lost to Miami in the second round. His Case in Six Words: Giannis Antetokounmpo Is the Most Dominant He's been most dominant the last three years. Milwaukee Bucks big man Giannis Antetokounmpo capped off an incredible year by being named MVP of the 2018-19 NBA season during the leagues award show on Monday night. That's not setting no expectation. With cameras and recorders constantly pointed toward your face, game after game, day after day, it's hard to come up with fresh, original, insightful remarks about a game you've been playing since you took your first steps. Bucks vs. 76ers odds, picks, computer sims, Morant to miss 'at least' two games after IG post, NBA DFS picks, lineups, advice, March 4 strategy, Grizzlies' Clarke out for season with Achilles injury, Raptors vs. Wizards odds, picks, computer sims, Streaking Warriors must overcome one major roadblock. Giannis Antetokounmpo is lurking. Giannis Antetokounmpo: (05:30) But yeah, I think Im excited. But at the end of the day if my teammates need me Im here for them. But Giannis saved his best for last. We got to be really careful after we shoot. He also decided to take a different mental approach. Fair use is permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. So its kind of weird, youre not as close to your teammate as you would want to be. Whats up Giannis? But unlike his . Are we going to be able to bring our family there from day one? MVP! Awesome. Health wise I feel great, I feel a hundred percent healthy. Giannis Antetokounmpo accepts the Kia NBA Most Valuable Player award onstage during the 2019 NBA Awards on June 24, 2019 in Santa Monica, California. GIANNIS CAME UP CLUTCHA HUGE block when it mattered pic.twitter.com/ZbyMCj8L1s. https://t.co/cT5siwkvjv. I'm happy I can step on the floor with this guy and play every single minute with this guy, and the rest of the guys, but Khris especially.". First of all I want to thank my teammates. Speaker 1: (00:04) Speaker 3: (12:32) Discover why Rev is the #1 speech-to-text service in the world. With Giannis on the bench to start the second quarter, the Bucks quickly chipped away at the lead thanks to brilliant play from Jrue Holiday, Khris Middleton, Brook Lopez, Bobby Portis and Pat Connaughton. Yeah, thats life. Thank you. How much consideration did you give to not playing, not going to Orlando? He collected 20 points and 17 rebounds in a Game 1 loss. So its not something that I havent done before. What was the second question? Antetokounmpo hyperextended his left knee in the Eastern Conference finals against the Atlanta Hawks and missed the last two games of that series. There are no counters. Giannis Antetokounmpo erupts for 50 points as the Bucks close out the Suns 105-98 in Game 6 to win their first NBA championship since 1971. He turned around and managed to block Ayton's dunk attempt to preserve the lead and, eventually, the win. I wondered what questions or concerns you had for the league to feel safe about playing and what I mean by that is did you ask about the medical facilities down there or the staff or how frequently testing? The 25-year-old forward, who also won . So whoever is in the best shape and took care of themselves for this three and a half months, four months that we wasnt able to play is going to be in a better position than other teams. Hi Giannis. But we can't forget that along with those came countless winning plays that are a result of his selflessness and suppression of his ego. And I trust them. Okay well pause on Eric Woodier, ESPN. Its kind of hard. Are we going to be able to stay in the campus? What were you concerned about and what were you reassured with whatever answers you got? Eric Naim, The Athletic. That's humility. I brought my family, I brought my son out there with them. Giannis Antetokounmpo: (21:44) So I'm not going to stop. And my personal goal is to win the championship and I got to be ready for no matter what they throw in our face or in our table I got to be ready for that. Hey Giannis. All right. "I kind of try to focus on the moment, in the present. Giannis Antetokounmpo: (16:05) I hope that this award will serve as a reminder that with hard work and determination, anything is possible. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP) On Monday night, NBA commissioner Adam Silver stood on stage and announced Giannis Antetokounmpo was the winner of the 2019 NBA MVP award. Im excited to play games. What was it? We were able to beat this team 4-0. So I just got to stay locked in, mind my business, dont say much. https://ftw.usatoday.com/2019/06/nba-mvp-giannis-antetokounmpo-emotional, Shaq roasted Lonzo Ball and LaVar Ball with a jaw-dropping joke at NBA Awards show, Ja Morant's alleged off-court drama and suspension, explained, Michael Jordan looking dejected over the Hornets became an instant meme, Memphis Grizzlies vs. Denver Nuggets, live stream, channel, time, how to watch NBA this season, Brooklyn Nets vs. Boston Celtics, live stream, channel, time, how to watch NBA this season, Draymond Green's claim that European NBA players are held to different standards is completely ridiculous, 1 bettor hit an absurd NBA first-basket method parlay to turn 77 cents into $18K, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Antetokounmpo carried the Bucks to the best record in the Eastern Conference and while they came up short in the conference finals he had a monster year and is going to be a star for years to come. The Bucks superstar realizes his long-sought dream in walking away with Finals MVP honors. So once we start playing again I think were going to be just fine. The Milwaukee Bucks didnt win the championship though. Its tough to not play basketball for a while but youve got to figure out other ways to get better.