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The 10 best NBA moments of the 2019 calendar year

By Daniel Lubofsky

Portland Trail Blazers Damian Lillard. Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images)
Portland Trail Blazers Damian Lillard. Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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NBA Milwaukee Bucks Giannis Antetokounmpo
Milwaukee Bucks Giannis Antetokounmpo (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for Turner Sports) /

10. Giannis Antetokounmpo named NBA MVP

Giannis Antetokounmpo has gone through quite the number of stages in his relatively brief NBA career.

First, of course, came making it to the NBA as a little-known 15th overall pick by the Milwaukee Bucks in 2013. The next notable chapter came during the 2016-17 campaign when the Greek Freak made his first All-Star Game en route to earning Most Improved Player honors.

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His most recent accomplishment and the one that officially elevated him to superstar status was the claim of his first NBA MVP trophy for his efforts in 2018-19.

With new and innovative head coach Mike Budenholzer in town, expectations for the Bucks were high last season. They were not, however,  at a level that predicted Milwaukee to claim the best record in the NBA in the dominating fashion it did.

Antetokounmpo was the driving force behind an elite two-way unit, averaging 27.7 points on 57.8 percent shooting to go with 12.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 1.5 blocks, and 1.3 steals per game for one of just two teams to post top-five marks in both offensive and defensive rating.

No, the Bucks didn’t win an NBA championship. They didn’t even make the NBA Finals. But Giannis’ MVP season served as a tremendous leap for both individual and team, one that sets the stage for a possible title run in the near future.