The Bucks have improved to a 10-9 record and are situated solidly among the top six seeds in the Eastern Conference, reminiscent of their former dominance.
A significant contributor to this resurgence is Antetokounmpo, who has been averaging an impressive 32.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, 6.4 assists, 1.4 blocks, and 0.6 steals per game prior to the Bucks’ match against the Washington Wizards. His remarkable performance has reestablished him as a contender for the NBA MVP award.
Just over two weeks ago, Antetokounmpo ranked seventh in NBA.com’s power rankings by Shaun Powell but has now moved up to fourth, closely following Los Angeles Lakers’ Anthony Davis. Powell remarked, “Antetokounmpo heads into the Thanksgiving break as the league’s leading scorer, shooting 60% on high volume, which is highly impressive. In the two games since the last rankings, he scored 69 points and grabbed 21 rebounds, helping the Bucks recover from a 2-8 start.”
The Bucks have a favorable upcoming schedule, facing only two teams with winning records—Boston and Cleveland—until January 10. If Milwaukee continues to improve, Antetokounmpo’s performance may no longer be overshadowed by the team’s overall record.
Given the Bucks’ competitiveness against the Celtics and Cavaliers, a victory in their upcoming matchups seems achievable. The players currently ahead of Antetokounmpo in the rankings are Davis, Jayson Tatum of the Celtics, and Denver’s Nikola Jokic, the current frontrunner. If Antetokounmpo secures the MVP title again, it would mark his third win of this prestigious award.
He first won MVP for the 2018-19 season with averages of 27.7 points, 12.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 1.5 blocks, and 1.3 steals per game.
He followed up by winning the award again the next season, averaging 29.5 points, 13.6 rebounds, 5.6 assists, as well as being named Defensive Player of the Year.