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Bucks React to NBA's Giannis Antetokounmpo Announcement

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jonathan D Adams | Last updated Apr 22, 2025 10:25 AM ET

The Milwaukee Bucks continue to have their focus on defeating the Indiana Pacers in the NBA playoffs, but Giannis Antetokounmpo is being recognized for his stellar regular season play. Antetokounmpo averaged 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds and 6.5 assists per game in 67 appearances during the 2024-25 NBA regular season.

The superstar's stellar play gives him a chance to once again be honored as the NBA MVP. During the NBA playoffs, the league announced that Antetokounmpo is one of three finalist for the NBA MVP award.

Antetokounmpo is joined by Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Denver Nuggets big man Nikola Jokic as the other two NBA MVP candidates.

The Bucks took to social media to express their support for Antetokounmpo receiving another honor.

Your 2024-25 NBA Season Awards finalists!

MVP... pic.twitter.com/Y7uG6lWsDZ
— NBA UK (@NBAUK) April 21, 2025

"Congrats to Giannis on being an MVP finalist!" the Bucks detailed in a message on X on Sunday.

Antetokounmpo won back-to-back NBA MVP awards in 2019 and 2020. The star appears to be facing an uphill battle to win a third trophy in 2025.

ESPN's NBA insiders revealed their votes for who will win the MVP award. Gilgeous-Alexander received five votes while Jokic earned two. Antetokounmpo did not receive a vote of the seven ESPN insiders polled.

Congrats to Giannis on being an MVP finalist! pic.twitter.com/AORUMC1XEK
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) April 20, 2025

Back in March, Bucks head coach Doc Rivers was candid about his opinion that Antetokounmpo is not receiving enough MVP buzz.

.@BillSimmons's vote for NBA MVP this season goes to … pic.twitter.com/t3V88puOT3
— The Ringer (@ringer) April 18, 2025

“It’s funny, I was talking to one of the better coaches in the league and he brought it up,” Rivers said at the time, per Sports Illustrated. “He said, ‘How the (expletive) is no one talking about Giannis?’

"And he’s like, ‘He is doing different stuff. His assists keep going up. I mean, I don’t know what the guy has to do.’ But I’m not going to campaign (for him to be NBA MVP). I’m not going to do that, but he is a forgotten guy with what he’s doing for our basketball team.”

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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