Reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo believes that the championship this year will be toughest for any of the 22 teams that will emerge as the NBA Finals champ.
Five days from now, the first batch of NBA teams will arrive in the Disney World complex to kick off the NBA restart. As soon as they enter the bubble, there is no going out or seeing their family until the Playoffs start. For those that will not make the Playoffs, they will have to decide whether to stay in the bubble or go home.
The NBA is taking the restart seriously, and life will be tough for any player competing for this year’s NBA championship. As such, the asterisk that many people are already placing beside this year’s title is being dismissed.
Giannis Antetokounmpo thinks this year is ‘toughest’
Giannis said earlier that he disagrees with people that are saying that the champions this year will be marked with an asterisk. He said,
“I feel like at the end of the day this is going to be like the toughest championship you could ever win because the circumstances are really, really tough right now. So, whoever wants it more is going to be able to go out there and take it.”
The reigning NBA MVP could be leading the Milwaukee Bucks to their first NBA championship since 1971. Giannis is hungrier than ever to silence all doubters as to his playing style and leadership. As such, there will be no stopping him from putting out his best to claim that title.
Giannis is presently averaging 29.6 points, 13.7 rebounds, and 5.8 assists in just 30 minutes of playing time. With these monster stats, he is again running at the forefront of this year’s MVP race.
Coaches think this year will be tough too
Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra agrees with the sentiments of Giannis. He believes that the path to this year’s NBA championship will not be similar to any other regular championship. He said,
“I think this might be certainly the most worthy of all world championships in the NBA because of all the things that every team is going to have to navigate and overcome to be able to be crowned a champion.”
Lakers head coach Frank Vogel echoes Spoelstra’s belief. The Lakers have had a target on their backs ever since the season started. As soon as Davis signed with the team, all eyes were set on them winning it all this year. In addition, the team suffered a strong morale hit when Lakers legend Kobe Bryant passed away.
Nevertheless, Vogel said that the team would continue to endure any hardship. He said,
“I don’t know about other teams but if we were able to come through all of this and achieve the ultimate prize, I do think it deserves a harder-than-ordinary asterisk. If you’re going to put an asterisk on it, I don’t think it weakens it at all.”
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