By Angel Rivera 
The NBA Cup Final just took place, with the Milwaukee Bucks claiming a gritty 97-81 victory
over the young and prominent Oklahoma City Thunder squad. Giannis Antetokounmpo looked
unstoppable out there, earning the Cup MVP honors. It seemed like the Thunder had no answer
for Antetokounmpo on either end of the floor. It’s just incredible how he gets to the rim with such
ease—better than anyone else in the league. The Bucks went 7-0 in the Cup, led by their
dominant duo of Damian Lillard and Antetokounmpo, silencing critics who had misunderstood
this team for a while.
For any NBA fan who saw how the Bucks started this season, you might’ve wondered if and
when this pairing would finally work. Fast forward 12 games, and they’ve flipped the script.
Lillard and Antetokounmpo have been arguably the best duo in the league right now. Leading
their team to the 5th seed with a 14-11 record—after standing at a disappointing 4-9
earlier—they’ve restored hope for Bucks fans. While questions remain for this team going
forward, Lillard has been an offensive assassin, supported by reliable shooters like T aurean
Prince and AJ Green. Lillard’s ability to attack and create for others opens up opportunities for
his teammates. Bobby Portis, often underrated, has been a quiet threat, capable of delivering
15-point performances that hurt opponents at key moments. Not to mention Khris Middleton, a
proven veteran and playoff performer, has recently returned from injury, adding even more
options for the Bucks to build around Antetokounmpo.
When it comes to the current MVP race, Antetokounmpo is undeniably a top candidate. He’s the
driving force behind the Bucks’ success, averaging 32.7 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 6.1 assists
while shooting an incredible 61% from the field—the 5th best in the league. Beyond the stats,
his sheer tenacity with the ball in the half court is unmatched. Whether he’s taking defenders to
the rim for a bucket, drawing a foul, or confidently pulling up for midrange jumpers (an area
where he’s shown improvement this year), Antetokounmpo is nearly unstoppable. Pair him with
Lillard in the pick-and-roll, and it’s a nightmare for opposing defenses. On the other side of the
ball, Giannis elevates the team’s defense significantly, with Brook Lopez anchoring the paint to
help the Bucks maintain their top-10 defensive rating.
Now that the NBA Cup is over, it’s back to the regular season grind as we close in on 2024. By
the second half of the year, teams will either have gelled together or still be searching for
answers. For now, the Bucks seem to have figured it out and appear more determined than
ever. Early struggles and outside criticism have clearly lit a fire under this team.
Milwaukee is one of the biggest threats to the Celtics in the East. While I believe the Knicks
currently pose the strongest challenge to Boston, Milwaukee is right there with New York. The
difference maker for the Bucks will be their consistency and their stars continuing to align.
Antetokounmpo was mentioned in trade rumors earlier this year, making it clear that this season
is championship or bust. He looks like he’s in peak form and seems willing to do whatever it
takes to lead this team over the hump.
Joel Perez