NBA: Giannis’ $347m future question; LeBron makes playoff history

For the second straight year one of the NBA’s most dominant players has been sent packing early, now all eyes turn to his future.

Serious questions hang over the head of Giannis.

The Milwaukee Bucks were the best team in the NBA regular season with the best player on the planet leading the charge.

Giannis Antetokounmpo took his MVP level of play from the 2018/19 season to even greater heights in 2019/20.

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The Greek Freak proved once again why he’s one of the most unstoppable forces on both ends of the floor. But once the playoffs got underway the Bucks couldn’t match their regular season output.

After falling in the Eastern Conference Finals last year, the Bucks hoped to go one better but came up even shorter as the Miami Heat sent them packing in the second round.

The damning early exit for Antetokounmpo and the Bucks leads to what will be an interesting off-season with the megastar becoming an unrestricted free agent in 2021.

With several stars locked away on decent money deals, including Khris Middleton on a max deal, all eyes will turn to Antetokounmpo and his future plans.

The reigning MVP, likely to add his second straight trophy, can put pen to paper on a supermax extension with the Bucks – worth around $US200-250 million (up to $A347m) depending on the cap — before next season.

Antetokounmpo after the Bucks’ playoff run was brought to an end announced publicly he intended to remain in Milwaukee and help secure the franchise a championship. But as we saw with Kyrie Irving, time can change a lot of thoughts.

“It’s not happening. That’s not happening,” Antetokounmpo said to Yahoo Sports about leaving the Bucks.

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An eye on the future.

Despite his public appeal he won’t be leaving Milwaukee, until pen is put to paper the rumour mill will run crazy with speculation about where he could end up.

After they fell behind 2-0 against the Heat, Yahoo Sports’ Vincent Goodwill spilt the beans on the rumoured frontrunners to land the dominant star.

“It’s no wonder many in league circles believe Miami and Toronto are the frontrunners in the Antetokounmpo sweepstakes, with one observer telling Yahoo Sports ‘it’s an open secret’ within the Orlando bubble,” Goodwill wrote.

Of course fans can’t go past linking him to the Golden State Warriors who snagged Kevin Durant and went on to secure NBA titles alongside Stephen Curry.

With an arsenal of picks up their sleeves the Warriors could swoop in and restart another dynasty with Antetokounmpo and Curry dominating the league.

All eyes will remain on the 25-year-old superstar and just where his future may lie.

LEBRON JAMES MAKES NBA PLAYOFF HISTORY

Somehow, some way LeBron James just keeps playing at levels that shouldn’t be possible for a man in their 17th season.

James was at his dominant best as the Lakers secured the 2-1 series lead against the Houston Rockets on Wednesday, finishing with 36 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists.

But it was the win which mean the most as it propels The King to the top of the standings in terms of the most playoff wins in NBA history.

LeBron James, the greatest player ever, just set the record for the most wins in playoff history. Here are his all time playoff rankings:

Wins- 1st
Points- 1st
FGs- 1st
3pt FGs- 2nd
FTs- 1st
Asts- 3rd
Rebs- 6th
Stls- 1st
Blks- 13th
Games- 3rd
Mins- 1st

— nick wright (@getnickwright) September 9, 2020

The 30-5-5 statline also becomes his 88th playoff game with those numbers, a total which equals the combined career totals of Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant.

“One of the best performances I’ve ever seen in one half of playoff basketball by LeBron James!!” Magic Johnson tweeted.

“He scored from every spot on the floor.”

This is LeBron James' 88th career playoff game with at least 30 points, five rebounds, and five assists, equaling the combined career totals of Michael Jordan (51) and Kobe Bryant (37).

— Justin Kubatko (@jkubatko) September 9, 2020

The Lakers and Rockets will battle in game 4 on Friday at 9am (AEST).