The Milwaukee Bucks were crowned 2024 Emirates NBA Cup champions following a dominant 97-81 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder at T-Mobile Arena. Giannis Antetokounmpo starred in that triumph and revealed postgame that he had promised two-way player Liam Robbins the Bucks would win the title so Robbins could buy a house.
“We had this joke within the team about our two-way guy Liam,” Antetokounmpo said. “That I promised him from the first cup game. I promised him, I said, ‘We’re going to go all the way and you’re going to get your house in Iowa.’ So after every game I’m like, ‘Hey, one step closer to your house in Iowa.’ After the game, we went to the locker room and I saw smiles on their face.
“For me, as I was saying before the game and halftime, the money does not matter to me,” Antetokounmpo stated. “It never mattered. If it mattered to me, I wouldn’t be who I am, I wouldn’t keep on pushing myself to the limit to improve every single year.
“But, I understand that this is life-changing money to people,” Antetokounmpo added. “I’m happy we’re able to give that to a lot of players within our team and not just players. The coaching staff, physios, and people that helped us win this trophy.”
It is indeed life-changing money for someone like Robbins. Players on two-way contracts make half of the rookie minimum salary for that season, so he is set to earn $578,577 in 2024-25 with his deal.
Now, you might think this NBA Cup triumph will get Robbins about the same amount that he’ll get from his two-way deal, but that’s not the case. While the likes of Antetokoumpo and others on standard contracts will get $514,971, those on two-ways get half of it.
So, Robbins, who went undrafted in 2023 out of Vanderbilt, will get $257,485.50, which is still pretty good. The 25-year-old should be able to buy a house in Iowa with that money.
If you’re wondering what Antetokounmpo plans on doing with the money, he joked postgame that it’s already all gone.
“I just got married,” Antetokounmpo said. “My wife is a little bit needy, so I might have to get a gift, it’s Christmas. I have also three kids. I gotta go Christmas shopping and have a kid on the way. Diapers are expensive, so the money is already gone.”
Antetokounmpo married Mariah Riddlesprigger on Sept. 1, 2024, and she might well be expecting a special Christmas present now. His children would be as well so that money might well disappear in a flash.
Getting back to the game, Antetokounmpo had 26 points (10-19 FG), 19 rebounds, 10 assists, two steals, and three blocks against the Thunder. It was an incredible showing and the 30-year-old was named NBA Cup MVP after it.
All the doom and gloom surrounding the Bucks earlier in the season seems like a bit of a distant memory now. They are 13-3 in their last 16 games and are now looking like the team they were expected to be.
The 14-11 Bucks will now celebrate this triumph but another difficult challenge awaits them. They take on the 23-4 Cleveland Cavaliers next at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on Friday at 7:30 PM ET. The Cavaliers won each of the first two meetings between the teams this season and the Bucks would be hoping to gain some revenge in this one.
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