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With Giannis Antetokounmpo’s time with the Milwaukee Bucks coming to an end, let’s look back at the moments that defined a legendary era.
After months of trade rumors, the Milwaukee Bucks have finally pulled the trigger on parting ways with Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Greek Freak had been their franchise player and main man for more than a decade. Since being selected by the Bucks in 2013, the franchise took a chance on a long, raw prospect from Greece and watched him develop into a full-blown generational talent.
Across 13 seasons in Milwaukee, Antetokounmpo not only became a superstar, but the heart and soul of an entire era. He brought countless moments of dominance, historic achievements, and ultimately delivered the championship that the city had waited decades for.
Those years will forever be remembered in Bucks history. As the franchise legend prepares to depart, let’s look back at some of the greatest moments of his Milwaukee journey.
Most Improved Player Season
The Milwaukee Bucks took a chance on a long, skinny prospect from Greece. Giannis entered the league with all the tools to become a successful NBA player, but he was extremely raw. It was clear from the beginning that he would be a long-term project.
There were already flashes of his potential, but after years of development and experimentation with different positions, including point guard, he finally broke out. By his fourth season, he averaged over 22 points per game and officially took the mantle as the Bucks’ main man. It was enough to win the NBA’s Most Improved Player Award in 2017.
It was only the beginning, as Giannis would continue evolving and unlock even deadlier versions of his game.
Back-to-Back MVP Awards
By his sixth season, it became clear that Antetokounmpo was one of the best players in the league. Having established himself as a dominant two-way force with good ball-handling at his size, he reached even greater heights.
In the 2018-19 season, he led the Bucks to the best record in the league and won his first MVP award. Though it did not end with a championship, Milwaukee was far from finished.
The following season, Antetokounmpo repeated as MVP while also adding a Defensive Player of the Year award to his resume. He cemented himself as one of the most dominant two-way forwards the game has ever seen. At just the middle of his prime, it was clear that his trophy cabinet was only going to get even more stacked.
‘The Block’
Perhaps one of the most important moments of the 2021 championship run came in Game 4 of the NBA Finals.
After starting the series down 0-2 against the Phoenix Suns, the Bucks faced an uphill battle. Though they bounced back with a Game 3 victory, the next game remained a tight contest between two elite teams.
It came down to the final moments with Milwaukee holding a 2-point lead. Devin Booker drove into the paint and threw a lob to Deandre Ayton for what looked like an easy game-tying dunk. With Giannis seemingly out of position, he somehow recovered and rejected Ayton at the rim in what became one of the most iconic blocks in NBA Finals history.
It completely shifted the momentum of the series as the Bucks never looked back and eventually won the next two games to bring home the championship.
50-Point Championship Clincher
It was never going to be easy, as the Bucks still had to grind out Games 5 and 6 to complete their championship run. With the help of Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton, Giannis delivered when the lights were at their brightest.
In the series-clinching Game 6, Antetokounmpo dropped a ridiculous 50 points along with 14 rebounds and 5 blocks to end Milwaukee’s 50-year championship drought.
The most incredible part was that he was not even expected to be available after suffering a knee injury in the previous series. There were doubts about whether he would return in time and whether he would still be at 100 percent.
It sounded almost impossible, but Antetokounmpo proved once again that he was simply different.
64-Point Game
Despite falling short in his following playoff runs, Giannis continued to dominate the court. There was no longer any questioning his greatness, as he continued to put together historic performances.
During the 2023-24 season against the Indiana Pacers, Antetokounmpo set a new Bucks franchise record by dropping 64 points. It was a testament to how much he had grown as a player, continuing to evolve and dominate despite the limitations and criticisms that opponents often pointed out in his game.
There may be questions about how his final years in Milwaukee played out, but there should never be any doubt that Giannis gave everything he had for the city. Watching him grow from a raw teenager into a champion, MVP, and franchise icon is one of the greatest player development stories in basketball from the 2010s up to today.
Banner Images from NBA.
Frequently Asked Questions
Giannis Antetokounmpo’s most significant Bucks moments include his 2017 Most Improved Player Award, back-to-back MVP seasons in 2019 and 2020, a series-altering block on Deandre Ayton in the 2021 Finals, a championship-clinching 50-point Game 6, and a 64-point Bucks franchise record against the Indiana Pacers in 2023–24.
Giannis Antetokounmpo played 13 seasons for the Milwaukee Bucks after being selected in the 2013 NBA Draft. During that time he developed from a raw prospect into a two-time MVP, a Defensive Player of the Year, and a champion, becoming the defining figure in a full era of Bucks basketball.
Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 50 points, grabbed 14 rebounds, and recorded 5 blocks in Game 6 of the 2021 NBA Finals to clinch the Milwaukee Bucks’ championship — the franchise’s first title in 50 years. He returned from a knee injury suffered in the previous series to deliver the performance.
Giannis Antetokounmpo set the Milwaukee Bucks franchise scoring record with 64 points in a single game against the Indiana Pacers during the 2023–24 NBA season. The performance surpassed the previous franchise record and reinforced his status as the most dominant individual scorer in Bucks history.
Giannis Antetokounmpo’s block on Deandre Ayton came in the final moments of Game 4 of the 2021 NBA Finals, with the Bucks holding a two-point lead. The rejection prevented what appeared to be a certain game-tying dunk and shifted the momentum of the series in Milwaukee’s favor permanently.
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