Giannis Antetokounmpo just won his second consecutive NBA MVP award at just 25 years old, according to a report from ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
He’s officially one of three players to win both Defensive Player of the Year and the MVP awards in the same season. The other two? Michael Jordan and Hakeem Olajuwon. That’s pretty great company to be in.
He’s a pretty convincing MVP, if there ever was one. The historically good numbers bear it out. But even with that being the case, all NBA fans are doing is arguing about whether he deserved it.
Some are saying Antetokounmpo doesn’t deserve it because he got sent home in the second round of the playoffs despite MVP being an award based on regular season performance. Others are saying that this should be LeBron James’ trophy, straight up.
It’s insanity right now on NBA Twitter.
Giannis MVP? pic.twitter.com/SYq2zdgqbR
— Jeffrey Wilkins (@YoungJDubb) September 18, 2020
They really gave Giannis mvp over lebron pic.twitter.com/tuEMbXKiSu
— Ig: @lebronshitman (@lebronshitman) September 18, 2020
Congrats to Giannis on winning the MVP.
But we already know who the real MVP is. By the way he's playing tonight. pic.twitter.com/PWGx87YXDG
— LAKERFANATICS (@LAKERFANATICS) September 18, 2020
How LeBron looking at Giannis MVP trophy pic.twitter.com/TgYBbdvnGR
— Josiah Johnson (@KingJosiah54) September 18, 2020
LeBron (MVP) and AD (DPOY) we’re robbed.
— Chris Manning (@LD2K) September 18, 2020
The LeBron hate grows exponentially. Media is so tired of writing about him they give other people his MVP award. Never forget this is the same league who gave Kobe Bean Bryant & Shaquille Rashaun O’Neal 1 MVP each.
— BEAN 🏁🏁🏁 (@MGRADS) September 18, 2020
Then there are other folks who think Giannis is well-deserving of the award. It’s a regular season award and he was straight up spectacular this year.
I don’t get the uproar, it’s a regular season award lol
— Travonne Edwards (Blk Tray) (@Travonne) September 18, 2020
giannis was the best player and defender in the regular season and those awards are for the regular season. live with it
— Martenzie Johnson (@Martenzie) September 18, 2020
i'll never understand citing the amount Kobe and Shaq have combined as proof that the MVP award is broken. Shaq only arguably deserved 2
we all know it is a regular season award, i don't know why collective amnesia exists for 1 week every year (the week the award is announced) https://t.co/pXRuPou8cM
— Tim (@ChuckShots) September 18, 2020
They also made some pretty solid points when comparing his journey in the NBA so far to some of the greatest players of all-time.
In 1988, 24-year-old Michael Jordan became the first players to win MVP and DPOY. His Bulls lost 1-4 in the Eastern Semis.
In 2020, 25-year-old Giannis Antetokounmpo became the third player to win MVP and DPOY. His Bucks lost 1-4 in the Eastern Semis.
— Peter Bukowski (@Peter_Bukowski) September 18, 2020
Lebron won the MVP in 2009 and 2010
In 2009 he lost in the Conference Finals.
In 2010 his 66 win team lost in the 2nd round, same round as Giannis did, to the Celtics.Lebron still deserved to win MVP then, Giannis still deserves to win it now. It's a Regular Season Award.
— Mike Korzemba (@mikekorz) September 18, 2020
There are some really passionate arguments on both sides. The bottom line, though, is that Antetokounmpo is the NBA’s MVP. And he definitely earned it.
Don’t look for these arguments to stop anytime soon, though.
