Giannis Antetokounmpo secured MVP after leading the Milwaukee Bucks to a 97-81 win over the OKC Thunder in the final of the NBA Cup, becoming the second team to win the tournament.
Damian Lillard‘s contributions were integral to the team’s triumph, something that Giannis highlighted while praising Lillard during the prize-giving.
“Man, this guy is one of the best players I’ve ever played with. Top 75, his resume speaks for itself. Coming into the game, we both didn’t feel 100% but we grind. We knew we had to do our job and that our team needed us. Whenever I need this guy he’s always there for me, whenever he needs me I’m always there for him.”
“We’ve got to keep on leading this team and setting the table for others and making others better. At the end of the day me and him, we are going to be great, I’m so proud of him, our chemistry’s the best it’s ever been and it’s going to keep getting better with time… I’m so excited to play with this guy by my side.”
https://twitter.com/GiannisWorld/status/1869237470182736236
Giannis gave more thoughts about the win after the game and expressed his joy at this being his first trophy alongside Lillard.
“It’s the best feeling ever. Winning feels good. Playing big games feels good when you’re able to come to the game, execute your game plan, and the outcome is exactly what you wanted to be… It’s not just about the game itself, it’s everything leading up to the game. The way you prep your body, the anxiety you feel… All those feelings make the win even better.”
“So proud of the group, everybody was so locked in and came in with focus, played great basketball, and we were able to win this game. We had this goal as a team and we accomplished it. I’m happy for Dame [Damian Lillard] and this being our first trophy together. This is just the beginning.”
“It’s the best feeling ever. Winning feels good… I’m happy for [Damian Lillard] and this being our first trophy together.”
Giannis on the Bucks NBA Cup title 🏆
(via @BrettSiegelNBA) pic.twitter.com/5OgOHEFksi
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) December 18, 2024
Giannis put up a dominant triple-double with 26 points (10-19 FG), 19 rebounds, 10 assists, two steals, and three blocks while Lillard had 23 points (6-12 FG) in the low-scoring win.
Their chemistry is finally looking to be on point, with the ceiling for the Bucks as a franchise looking higher than ever right now.
Lillard reflected on his adjustment to playing alongside Giannis after the game and expressed his happiness about them having cracked the code on how to be teammates.
“People wanted to put me with Giannis and think it was gonna be perfect. We’re both high-level players but I come from a situation where I’ve always had the ball and he’s had a decade of him having the ball and playing a certain way. It just took time to get to know each other better as people. You can’t just trust somebody that you’re paired with if you don’t know who they are and how they think, how they operate. “Time has helped us, we’ve gotten a lot of reps playing in games together.”
“People wanted to put me with Giannis & think it was gonna be perfect. I come from a situation where I’ve always had the ball & he’s had a decade of him having the ball. It just took time to get to know each other better.”
Damian Lillard gets deep on his connection with Giannis… pic.twitter.com/PTUr1QX4Qr
— Vegas Sports Today (@VegasSportsTD) December 18, 2024
Giannis is averaging 32.7 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 6.1 assists this season while Lillard is averaging 25.7 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 7.5 assists, making them the highest-scoring duo in the NBA this season ahead of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.
While the Bucks chose not to celebrate the NBA Cup win in the locker room, Lillard will gladly celebrate his first NBA trophy in his own way after this triumph. It should be great motivation for the team as they look to climb further up the standings.
Thank you for being a valued reader of Fadeaway World. If you liked this article, please consider following us on Google News. We appreciate your support.
