Shaq crashes and burns in 2019 NBA Awards live rap

Giannis Antetokounmpo had NBA teammates fighting back tears as he struggled through his emotional acceptance speech at the MVP Awards.

4 min read

June 25, 2019 - 2:02PM

Giannis Antetekounmpo broke down in tears.

NBA

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Giannis Antetokounmpo has wowed the NBA with an emotional, classy acceptance speech after being confirmed as the league MVP for the 2018-19 season.

The Milwaukee superstar, known as The Greak Freak, broke down on stage during the sparkly ceremony at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica as he was announced the new top dog of basketball.

Antetekounmpo won the vote ahead of Houston’s James Harden and Oklahoma’s Paul George — the other two MVP condidates.

Antetekounmpo’s speech paid tribute to his teammates and NBA rivals, but it was talking about his family where the 24-year-old choked up with emotion.

The tears began to flow as soon as he began to talk about the impact his father Charles Antetokounmpo had on his career.

Antetekounmpo Sr died in 2017 from a heart attack at just 53-years of age.

Tears rolled down his cheeks as said it was his father’s memory that pushed him to such incredible heights this season.

King Giannis.

“I want to thank my dad. Obviously my dad is not here with me,” Giannis said before choking up and needing to take a moment to compose himself.

“Two years ago I had the goal in my head that I was going to be the best player in the league. I’m going to do whatever it takes to help my team to win and we’re going to win everything.

“Every day that I step onto the floor, I always think about my dad and that motivates me, that pushes me to play harder. Even though when my body is sore, even when I don’t feel like playing, I am always going to show up and I’m always going to do the right thing.

“I want to thank my amazing brothers. I love you guys. I love you guys. You guys are my role models, man. I look up to you guys. Thankyou for everything that you guys do for me. “And I want to thank my amazing mum.”

He went on to describe her as “the foundation of this family” and “my true hero”.

Giannis got emotional as he paid tribute to his family while accepting the #KiaMVP trophy. ðŸ™#NBAAwards pic.twitter.com/T8p5XH73cZ
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) June 25, 2019

Antetokounmpo earned All-NBA first-team honors this season, his sixth with the Bucks. He led the franchise to the best record in the regular season and the Bucks fell two games short of reaching the NBA Finals.

He averaged 27.7 points and 12.5 rebounds.

Earlier, NBA Awards co-host Shaquille O’Neal left plenty of basketball commentators squirming in their seats.

Co-host Chris Tucker didn’t fare much better than the former giant Lakers centre.

After an opening pre-recorded video of Shaq’s journey to the awards, the big man crashed the stage with Tucker and jumped straight into his own NBA-inspired version of American hip hop group Migos’ “Stir Fry” track from 2018.

While the performance had its moments, most were looking for the ejection button on their seats pretty quickly.

The Big Diesel gets the #NBAAwards started as only he can! ðŸ•ºðŸŽ¤ pic.twitter.com/heUgCncc0a
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) June 25, 2019

1. This show needs to end. Announce the MVP and award winners during the playoffs like the old way.

2. We know who got drafted before we know who won what.

3. When Shaq is the only person that will host, it proves why Nos. 1 & 2 are true.
— Carron J. Phillips (@carronJphillips) June 25, 2019

Shaq rapping at the NBA Awards is like competing in your high school talent show after you finish grad school.
— Dom (@DomGarrett) June 25, 2019

Shout out to the NBA awards for making the AVN awards look like a Nobel peace Prize ceremony.
— Blockhead (@BlockheadNYC) June 25, 2019

Shaq’s performance set the stage for the annual awards show, which opened with Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic winning the Rookie of the Year award and Toronto tall Pascal Siakam taking out the most improved player award.

20-year-old Dallas small forward Doncic accepted his trophy from RJ Barrett, who went to the New York Knicks as the No. 3 pick in the NBA draft last week. Doncic was the No. 3 pick last year.

The other finalists were Deandre Ayton of Phoenix and Trae Young of Atlanta.

Milwaukee’s Mike Budenholzer won Coach of the Year honours for the second time in his career and was overcome with emotion during his acceptance speech.

He guided the Bucks to a 60-22 record in the regular season in his first year with the franchise, leading them to the Eastern Conference finals, where they lost to eventual NBA champion Toronto.

He got choked up while thanking his wife and kids.

“For my family, I want to thank my kids, my daughters Libby and Hanna,” Budenholzer said.

“My sons, Will and John...”

Budenholzer then needed a moment to compose himself, before the crowd responding with a warm ovation.

“You guys make me proud every day. You inspire me every day. And as a coach, as in life, I hope I do the same for you.”

Mike Budenholzer of the @Bucks wins the 2018-19 NBA Coach of the Year! #NBAAwards pic.twitter.com/GdLytcP7KK
— NBA (@NBA) June 25, 2019

Siakam earlier beat out De’Aaron Fox of Sacramento and D’Angelo Russell of Brooklyn for his award.

Siakam, from Cameroon, said in his acceptance speech his award can give hope to African kids to work hard in pursuing their dreams.

American actor Tiffany Haddish and New York Knicks draft star RJ Barrett present an award.

Los Angeles Clippers’ bench player Lou Williams then took out the Sixth Man of the Year gong.

It made it back-to-back Sixth-Man trophies for the star guard, taking him to a record-equalling third Sixth-Man award.

The finalists for the Most Valuable Player trophy are Antetokounmpo of Milwaukee, Paul George of Oklahoma City and Houston’s Harden, who won last year.

Larry Bird and Magic Johnson will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award during the two-hour show airing on TNT.

Among the presenters are Tiffany Haddish, Issa Rae and Samuel L. Jackson.

The star power certainly added some class on the red carpet before the start of the ceremony.