Milwaukee Bucks: 3 bold predictions for 2018-19 NBA season

MILWAUKEE, WI - OCTOBER 3: the Milwaukee Bucks react during a pre-season game against the Chicago Bullson October 3, 2018 at Fiserv Forum, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images) /

4 of 4

(Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /

1. Giannis Antetokounmpo will win MVP

The Greek Freak’s ascension from unknown European prospect to full-fledged superstardom has to be one of the best NBA stories ever.

Last season saw Antetokounmpo take his talents to even greater heights, averaging 26.9 points, 10.0 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game, and that was with the midseason acquisition of Eric Bledsoe, the non-shooting duo of John Henson and Thon Maker clogging up the paint and a head coach who ran a very simplistic set of plays.

Following a summer full of transactions, the Bucks’ roster is now better suited to surround Giannis, while their new coach will certainly inject some offensive ingenuity to better serve his superstar.

The MVP award has become extremely driven by the narrative surrounding each candidate. Antetokounmpo’s rise through the NBA ranks in small-market Milwaukee is a compelling storyline, but not as much as the now L.A.-based LeBron James, for example.

The Bucks will definitely have to win more games and probably even get a top-three seed, but to make a legitimate case for the MVP award, Giannis will have to get his numbers up to historical levels.

Top 10 candidates for 2018-19 MVP award. dark. Next

They’re not the greatest of odds, but given how many Antetokounmpo’s seemed to beat throughout his life, it wouldn’t be all that surprising if he pulled it off.

Home/Milwaukee Bucks