Apr 29, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) during game five of the first round for the 2024 NBA Playoffs against the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo Misses Out on Third MVP

Originally posted on Milwaukee Bucks on SI
By Ryan Stano | Last updated May 21, 2025 4:29 PM ET

The Milwaukee Bucks were hoping to push for the NBA title this year. Making trades for Kyle Kuzma and Kevin Porter Jr. underscored how much of a push they were trying to make.

Instead, they lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Indiana Pacers for the second straight year. Still, that doesn't take away how good of a regular season Antetokounmpo had.

Antetokounmpo was one of the best players in the league this season. In fact, he was one of the three finalists for the MVP Award. Winning this one would have given him his third MVP.

While he was one of the finalists for the award, he did not end up winning it. Instead, Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander won his first MVP award.

Breaking: Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has won the NBA MVP award, sources tell ESPN.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 21, 2025

The Thunder were the best team in the regular season under his leadership. This was the best season from a point guard in quite a while.

Antetokounmpo was not able to lead the Bucks to even having home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs, so it was going to be tough for him to win the award this year.

Antetokounmpo has already won the award twice, so this isn't a devastating moment for him. In fact, he will have a good chance to win it next year if he ends up staying in Milwaukee.

If Antetokounmpo does stay in Milwaukee next season, he will have a chance to put up a ton of individual stats because he will be by far the best player on the team.

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Not only will Antetokounmpo be the best player on the roster, but feeding him the ball as much as he wants would be the only highlight of next season. They don't have a chance to compete for a title without Damian Lillard.

Not winning the MVP this season should only fuel Antetokounmpo to be even better. He's going to work hard this offseason to play his best for whatever team he ends up playing for.

Antetokounmpo averaged 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 6.5 assists per game for the Bucks this season.

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This article first appeared on Milwaukee Bucks on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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