Giannis Antetokounmpo leads Milwaukee Bucks to NBA championship

One of the longest droughts in NBA history is over thanks to a monster performance from Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo.

The Greek Freak was emotional after winning his first NBA championship.

Giannis Antetokounmpo has produced yet another legendary performance on Wednesday (AEST) to lead the Milwaukee Bucks to their first NBA championship in 50 years.

The Greek Freak had a monster game, with 50 points, 13 rebounds and five blocks as the Bucks defeated the Phoenix Suns in game six of the NBA Finals 105-98.

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Looking to seal the series in front of a home crowd, Antetokounmpo set the Fiserv Forum alight as he put his team on his back to lead the Bucks to a stunning victory.

“This crowd has erupted. Giannis Antetokounmpo with one of the most iconic performances in the storied history of the NBA Finals,” commentator Mike Breen said.

The 26-year-old was in tears on the court as his remarkable achievement began to sink in.

Giannis finished an elimination Finals game with:

- more points than Booker/CP3
- more blocks than the Suns
- more FTs made than the Suns
- more rebounds than Ayton/Bridges

— Justin Phan (@jphanned) July 21, 2021

Greek Freak is HOOPING!!!!!!!

— LeBron James (@KingJames) July 21, 2021

Giannis Antetokounmpo now has three 40+ point games in this series.

It ties Rick Barry for the 6th-most Finals games with at least 40 points.

Only Elgin Baylor (4), Shaq (5), MJ (6), LeBron (8), and Jerry West (10) have more.

He's 26!

— Shane Young (@YoungNBA) July 21, 2021

Complete list of NBA players with *three* 40 point, 10 rebound games in the #NBAFinals:

Giannis
Shaq

— Emmanuel Acho (@EmmanuelAcho) July 21, 2021

Antetokounmpo became just the seventh player to have 50 points in an NBA finals game.

He also joined Rick Barry as just the second player to have three 40-point games in an NBA Finals series.

The two-time MVP was unsurprisingly awarded the Bill Russell trophy for the most valuable player in the NBA finals.

“I want to thank Milwaukee for believing in me,” Antetokounmpo said after the victory.

“I thank my teammates, they played hard every freaking game.

Giannis Antetokounmpo can add NBA champion and Finals MVP to his bulging resume. (Photo: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images/AFP)

“I trusted this team. I wanted to do it here in this city, I wanted to do it with these guys so I’m happy. I’m happy I am able to get it done”

The superstar opened up on his decision to stick with the Bucks after they were knocked out by the Miami Heat early on in last year’s playoffs.

In December last year, Antetokounmpo took a huge $312 million (AUD) gamble when he agreed to a new five-year contract extension with Milwaukee.

“I couldn’t leave. There was a job that had to be finished,” he told reporters after the game.

“I was like this is my city. They trust me, they believe in me. Even when we lost, the city was still on our side.

“It’s easy to go win a championship with someone else. It’s easy.

“I could go to a super team and just do my part and win a championship. But this is the hard way to do it and we did it.”

The result capped off an unbelievable turnaround from the Bucks who fought back from 2-0 down to win four consecutive games.

Giannis Antetokounmpo celebrates the crowning achievement of his career. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Phoenix led by five points at halftime but Milwaukee’s marquee star would not be denied as he brought the Bucks back into the game with his dominant play in the paint.

Antetokounmpo struggled with his free throw shooting during the season and the playoffs but shot 17 our of 19 attempts from the foul line in game six against the Suns.

Fan favourite Bobby Portis was superb off the bench with 16 points, while Khris Middleton hit a couple of clutch jump shots in the last quarter to keep the Suns at bay.

It was heartbreak for Phoenix, who had started the series off so well.

Veteran point guard Chris Paul had 26 points for the Suns but it wasn’t enough, as the 36-year-old’s likely last chance for an NBA championship went begging.

Speaking to reporters after the game, Paul said the loss hurt but dispelled any rumours his time was up in the NBA.

“I ain’t retiring,” he said.

Originally published as Giannis Antetokounmpo leads Milwaukee Bucks to NBA championship