# Giannis Antetokounmpo

**Giannis Antetokounmpo** rose from a modest rookie season to back-to-back Most Valuable Player awards and the 2021 NBA championship with Finals MVP honors. The NBA named him to its 75th Anniversary Team, recognizing him among the league's greatest players.<sup>[1](https://www.nba.com/news/archive-75-giannis-antetokounmpo)</sup>

| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Rookie season (2013-14) | 6.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 0.8 steals, 0.8 blocks in 24.6 minutes per game<sup>[1](https://www.nba.com/news/archive-75-giannis-antetokounmpo)</sup> |
| First MVP (2018-19) | 27.7 points and 12.5 rebounds per game; 78 of 101 first-place votes, over James Harden<sup>[1](https://www.nba.com/news/archive-75-giannis-antetokounmpo)</sup> |
| Second MVP and DPOY (2019-20) | MVP by an 85-16 first-place vote margin over LeBron James; Defensive Player of the Year by 75-14 over Anthony Davis<sup>[1](https://www.nba.com/news/archive-75-giannis-antetokounmpo)</sup> |
| Contract | $228 million maximum contract extension signed with Milwaukee on Dec. 15, 2020<sup>[1](https://www.nba.com/news/archive-75-giannis-antetokounmpo)</sup> |
| 2021 Finals, Game 6 | 50 points, 14 rebounds, five blocks; 16-of-25 from the field and 17-of-19 on free throws<sup>[1](https://www.nba.com/news/archive-75-giannis-antetokounmpo)</sup> |
| Team record, 2018-20 | Milwaukee went 116-39 (75% wins) across the two regular seasons of his MVP years<sup>[1](https://www.nba.com/news/archive-75-giannis-antetokounmpo)</sup> |

## From rookie to MVP

Antetokounmpo's first season with [Milwaukee](https://www.edgepedia.org/milwaukee) in 2013-14 was that of a slight, developing wing: 6.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.9 assists in 24.6 minutes per game, with 0.8 steals and 0.8 blocks.<sup>[1](https://www.nba.com/news/archive-75-giannis-antetokounmpo)</sup> Five seasons later he had become the league's Most Valuable Player. In 2018-19 he averaged 27.7 points and 12.5 rebounds and won the award with 78 of 101 first-place votes, finishing ahead of [James Harden](https://www.edgepedia.org/james-harden).<sup>[1](https://www.nba.com/news/archive-75-giannis-antetokounmpo)</sup>

**Back-to-back MVPs.** In 2019-20 he repeated as MVP, taking 85 first-place votes to 16 for [LeBron James](https://www.edgepedia.org/lebron-james), and added the Defensive Player of the Year award, beating [Anthony Davis](https://www.edgepedia.org/anthony-davis) 75-14 in that vote.<sup>[1](https://www.nba.com/news/archive-75-giannis-antetokounmpo)</sup> Behind him, Milwaukee compiled a 116-39 regular-season record across those two seasons, a 75 percent winning rate.<sup>[1](https://www.nba.com/news/archive-75-giannis-antetokounmpo)</sup>

## The 2021 championship

On December 15, 2020, Antetokounmpo committed to the Bucks with a $228 million maximum contract extension.<sup>[1](https://www.nba.com/news/archive-75-giannis-antetokounmpo)</sup>

In Game 6 of the 2021 [NBA Finals](https://www.edgepedia.org/nba-finals), he scored 50 points on 16-of-25 shooting, added 14 rebounds and five blocks, and made 17 of 19 free throws.<sup>[1](https://www.nba.com/news/archive-75-giannis-antetokounmpo)</sup>

## Playing style

The statistical arc from his rookie line to his MVP seasons reflects a player who grew into a frontcourt role while keeping perimeter skills. His MVP seasons paired high scoring and rebounding volume (27.7 points and 12.5 rebounds in 2018-19) with elite defensive recognition, as confirmed by the Defensive Player of the Year vote.<sup>[1](https://www.nba.com/news/archive-75-giannis-antetokounmpo)</sup> His Game 6 Finals line, with 50 points, five blocks, and 17-of-19 free-throw shooting in a single game, illustrates the combination of scoring load and rim protection that defined his peak play.<sup>[1](https://www.nba.com/news/archive-75-giannis-antetokounmpo)</sup>

## References

1. [Archive 75: Giannis Antetokounmpo, NBA.com](https://www.nba.com/news/archive-75-giannis-antetokounmpo)

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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Other team and ball sports › Basketball and court team sports › Basketball players and coaches (biographies) › Current NBA players › Power forwards*

*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 19, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Sep 19, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*

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