Is Giannis Antetokounmpo playing tonight against Thunder? Latest on Bucks superstar's availability for Emirates NBA Cup Final (Dec. 17)
Giannis Antetokounmpo is available to lead the Milwaukee Bucks' charge against the OKC Thunder in the highly anticipated NBA Cup Final on Tuesday. The superstar forward was listed as "probable" on the injury report due to right patella tendinopathy, a lingering issue the Greek superstar has been managing for some time.
In the NBA Cup semifinal against the Atlanta Hawks, the two-time MVP delivered a spectacular performance, guiding the Bucks to a hard-fought 110-102 victory. Playing 38 minutes, Giannis showcased his trademark dominance, filling up the stat sheet in a way fans have come to expect from him.
Giannis finished with 32 points on an efficient 10 of 15 shooting, while also making a significant impact across multiple categories. He added 14 rebounds, nine assists, one steal and four blocks, leaving his mark on every aspect of the game.
The Greek superstar has been on a mission this season, consistently delivering exceptional performances for his team. Remarkably, he has played 23 games this season without shooting below 50% from the field in any of them.
In his most recent outing, Giannis achieved yet another milestone, recording his 100th career game with at least 30 points, 10 rebounds and 60% shooting. He joined an elite group of only five other players in NBA history to achieve this feat: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (188), Wilt Chamberlain (151), Shaquille O’Neal (142), Karl Malone (131) and Charles Barkley (109).
Giannis Antetokounmpo leaves no doubt about his priorities
Ahead of the NBA Cup Final, Giannis Antetokounmpo made a definitive statement, emphasizing that the $500,000 prize money is not his focus. Instead, his priority remains winning trophies and building a lasting legacy.
"It's life-changing money, okay. Obviously $500,000, you can put a down payment on a house... Personally, I try not to think about the money," Giannis said.
"For the game, I love playing basketball ... [It's] creating more moments that I can remember. Creating more legacy for myself or something that my kids can look back to and say, 'Damn, my dad was a bad motherf*cker when he used to play.'"
When it comes to Giannis' performance this season, the perennial All-Star is putting up impressive numbers. He is averaging 32.7 points, 11.5 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 1.6 blocks per game while shooting an efficient 61.4% from the field, including a modest 17.6% from beyond the arc.