Giannis completes NBA dream journey from poverty to champion

MILWAUKEE -- As the last seconds ticked away before Milwaukee won the NBA Finals, Giannis Antetokounmpo thought not about his amazing performance but instead pondered his incredible journey from poverty to champion.

"When I came to the league, I didn't know where my next meal will come from. My mom was selling stuff in the street," Antetokounmpo recalled.

"Now I'm here sitting at the top of the top. I'm extremely blessed. I hope this can give everybody around the world, from Africa, from Europe, hope it can be done. I want them to believe in their dreams."

The 26-year-old Greek forward of Nigerian heritage scored 50 points, matching the greatest total in a close-out game in NBA history, to spark the Milwaukee Bucks over Phoenix 105-98 on Tuesday for their first crown in half a century.

He also managed 14 rebounds, five blocked shots, dominating defensive moves and even a 17-for-19 free throw showing in an iconic all-around masterpiece effort for the ages.

"It has been a long journey. I've done it all. I did anything that I could just to be in this position," Antetokounmpo said.

"I've done it all. Tonight, that's what I had to do. I had to do a little bit of everything. I had to defend, I had to rebound, I had to block."

With 65,000 people cheering in the streets outside the arena and 20,000 more screaming inside, Antetokounmpo won NBA Finals Most Valuable Player honors.

"I never thought I'm going to be 26 years old, with my team playing the NBA Finals. I never thought I would be sitting here. We've come a long way," he said.

"I started playing basketball just to help my family. Tried to get them out of the struggle, the challenges we were facing when we were kids."

Antetokounmpo wants to inspire youth who grew up in tough times as he did.

"This should make every person, every kid, anybody around the world believe in their dreams -- no matter whatever you feel when you're down, when you don't think it's going to happen for you or you might not make it in your career -- just believe in what you're doing and keep working," he said.

"Don't let nobody tell you what you can be and what you cannot do. People told me I cannot make free throws. I made my free throws tonight and I'm a freaking champion."

He's the only player in NBA history with five NBA All-Star and All-NBA selections, a finals and two season MVP awards and the top defender awards before turning 27.

Only four prior players born outside the United States had won the finals MVP award -- Hakeem Olajuwon, Tony Parker, Tim Duncan and Dirk Nowitzki.

Antetokounmpo credited former coach Jason Kidd with developing parts of his game other than scoring and current Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer with teaching him to trust his teammates in order to built a championship squad.

- 'It's freaking unreal' -

He's already thinking about a title repeat in 2022.

"This is an addictive feeling. These are the moments I want to chase. I want the team to build off this and hopefully we can do it again," said Antetokounmpo.

"This is going to be a quick turnaround. We're going to be back and a lot of people are going to come after us and we have to be ready for that."

He recalled how the late Kobe Bryant challenged him to be the MVP in 2017 and he did two years later, only for Bryant to say he should win the title, which he did two years later.

"He made me believe," Antetokounmpo said. "Kobe Bryant thinks I can do this and I can play at a high level and build my team and win my MVP? I had to do it. I had to work hard.

"To be able to accomplish those things, it's crazy. It's unreal. It's freaking unreal. I can't believe it."

Agence France-Presse

Giannis joins Jordan, Shaq, LeBron in NBA Finals history

MILWAUKEE -- Giannis Antetokounmpo joined an elite list of stars with back-to-back 40-point NBA Finals performances, but the Greek star forward stressed Sunday that "I'm no Michael Jordan."

Antetokounmpo became only the sixth player in NBA Finals history with 40 points in consecutive games, hitting 41 points and grabbing 13 rebounds in a 120-100 Bucks victory over Phoenix.

Milwaukee pulled within 2-1 in the best-of-seven championship series while the 26-year-old Greek forward, who had 42 points in a game-two loss, put himself on a select NBA list.

The two-time NBA Most Valuable Player joined Jordan, Jerry West, Shaquille O'Neal, Rick Barry and LeBron James with consecutive 40-point NBA Finals performances.

When asked if he would threaten Jordan's four 40-point games in a row, Antetokounmpo stressed he wasn't Jordan and added, "All I care about right now, it's getting one more (win), that's all, just take care of business, doing our job."

Bucks forward Khris Middleton was not amazed to see Antetokounmpo dominate two weeks after suffering a hyperextended left knee and missing two games.

"He has been doing this since I've been here," Middleton said. "Now it's on the biggest stage and everybody is getting a chance to see what he goes through, how he's hurt and he still finds a way to go out there and compete and be productive and be dominant at the same time.

"When he's rolling like he was these past two games, we know we have to just give him the ball and see what he can do."

Bucks reserve Bobby Portis, who excelled when Antetokounmpo went down, said his success is a reward from the "Basketball God" for his work ethic.

"Giannis is a relentless hard worker and gives his all to the team, and he's selfless," Portis said.

"When you play like that and you want to win, I think the Basketball God just always rewards you. He never cheats the game. He stays in the gym, he lifts weights hard every day. 

"When you're humble and hungry like that, it just always just comes back to you. And for a guy to hyperextend his knee less than two weeks ago, and to come back and do the things he's doing, man, I think it just speaks for itself.

"Whoever gave him the nickname 'Greek Freak' did a great job. It's different how he's playing out there and doing all these different things. That's just rare. That's really special of him."

Antetokounmpo recalled how he was fearful his season might be over after his injury earlier this month.

"My knee was double the size, so a little bit worried but when I got the MRI, they told me I have a chance to come back, even though I'm not 100 per cent. I was extremely happy," he recalled.

"I'm going to compete as hard as possible and do the right thing to help my team have the opportunity to win any game we play."

Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said the team plays better when Antetokounmpo plays better, no matter what the statistics are.

"We're at our best when Giannis is at his best," Budenholzer said. "He's a great playmaker, screener, passer and he does so many great things. When he's conscious of doing a little bit of everything, he's very capable and that's when he's at his best."

Agence France-Presse