Crazy stats show why Giannis could win both MVP and DPOY again

Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo is making a case to win both the NBA’s Most Valuable Player and Defensive Player of the Year awards.

The Milwaukee Bucks are gaining ground on the Boston Celtics for the top seed in the Eastern Conference just ahead of the All-Star Break. They did beat the Celtics 131-125 in overtime this past Tuesday, and look to walk into the break with a 12-game streak with a victory over Chicago on Tuesday night.

Their success can be attributed to superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, who will be a captain in the All-Star Game if he can shake off the injury he suffered against the Bulls.

While Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic is considered the favorite to win the NBA MVP again, Antetokounmpo should get some serious consideration based on this statistic.

According to StatMuse, players are shooting just 41 percent when they are defended by Antetokounmpo. Additionally, Antetokounmpo is putting up a 30-point, 10 rebounds, and five-assist season while shooting over 50 percent, the first since Wilt Chamberlain did so.

Giannis Antetokounmpo’s crazy stat should increase his MVP and DPOY odds

Those are truly some incredible statistics.

Back in the 1965-66 season, Chamberlain averaged 33.5 points, 24.6 rebounds, and 5.2 assists while shooting 54.0 percent from the field. Chamberlain won the NBA MVP award that year.

As of right now, Basketball Reference has Antetokounmpo with a 7.8 percent probability to win the NBA MVP, which ranks third. They have Jokic in first with a 68.5 percent probability, as he has averaged 24.7 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 10.1 assists while shooting 63.2 percent from the field.

Entering Thursday night, Antetokounmpo averaged 32.5 points, 12.3 rebounds, and 5.5 assists while shooting 54.0 percent from the field in 46 games played.

Facing the Chicago Bulls on Thursday, Antetokounmpo set the Bucks franchise record for assists by recording his 3,273rd in his career, a mark previously set by Paul Pressey.

https://twitter.com/Bucks/status/1626385318449496066

Considering these two statistical feats, Antetokounmpo should be getting a bit more love in the NBA MVP voting and the Defensive Player of the Year voting. We’ll see if he can help his case with a little over two months remaining until the start of the play-in tournament and playoffs in April.

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