Giannis Antetokounmpo enhances his impressive resume by earning the Emirates NBA Cup MVP.
LAS VEGAS – An hour before addressing reporters, Giannis Antetokounmpo had already received the Most Valuable Player trophy for the Emirates NBA Cup Championship. The award sat in front of him as a silent testament to his stellar performance, but when asked about its significance, the Bucks star didn’t take the easy route.
Does the MVP honor recognize the best player or the leader of the winning team?
Antetokounmpo could have easily said “both,” given his role in leading the Bucks to an undefeated 7-0 run through the Group and Knockout Rounds, culminating in a decisive 97-81 victory over the resilient Oklahoma City Thunder at T-Mobile Arena. Instead, the Greek Freak took a moment to reflect.
“When you approach a game like this, you’re not thinking about MVPs,” Antetokounmpo said. “You’re thinking about trying to win the game. And sometimes, when you do whatever it takes, you put yourself in a position to be successful and end up with a trophy like that.
“I don’t know why I got the MVP. I’m happy I got it. I don’t take it for granted. But I’m happiest that we won the game. Some of my teammates got life-changing money.”
Antetokounmpo referred to the Cup’s financial reward: members of the winning team earned approximately $514,000 each, with two-way players receiving half that amount. He shared a heartwarming story about Liam Robbins, a two-way player from Iowa, and a running joke among the team.
“I told Liam from the first Cup game, ‘We’re going all the way, and we’re going to get you a house in Iowa,’” Antetokounmpo said. “After every win, I’d say, ‘One step closer to your house.’ After the final game, seeing smiles on everyone’s faces made it worth it.”
Antetokounmpo joins LeBron James as the second MVP of the NBA Cup. James claimed the inaugural honor last year and, like Antetokounmpo, embraced the competition with focus and intensity. For Giannis, the Bucks’ pursuit of the Cup also symbolized a much-needed turning point in their season.
Milwaukee teammate Damian Lillard credited the Cup run for rejuvenating the Bucks after a shaky start. “We’ve shown that the team we began the season as isn’t who we truly are,” Lillard said. “As for Giannis, I don’t think the MVP or the Cup was his goal—it’s just who he is. His background, his journey, everything he’s overcome shapes how he approaches the game. He never stops.”
New Bucks coach Doc Rivers, who took over after Milwaukee’s Cup semifinal exit last year, shared how much coaching Antetokounmpo influenced his decision to return to the sidelines. “It’s a 10 out of 10,” Rivers said. “To coach Giannis, Dame, and this veteran group is an amazing opportunity. They let you coach them hard and handle the truth like grownups.”
The MVP race in the final came down to stars on both sides. Had OKC won, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander likely would have claimed the honor. Instead, Antetokounmpo earned it with a dominant triple-double: 26 points, 19 rebounds, and 10 assists, along with three blocks and two steals.
This latest accolade joins Antetokounmpo’s already illustrious resume, which includes eight All-Star selections, two regular-season MVPs, a Defensive Player of the Year award, a Finals MVP, and a place on the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team. It’s a remarkable journey for the once-skinny teenager from Athens, Greece, drafted 15th overall in 2013.
And yet, on this night, Antetokounmpo seemed as happy as ever—not just for the trophy, but for what it represented: his team’s resilience, camaraderie, and renewed sense of purpose.
