Giannis, Bucks Win Big At NBA Awards
Jun 24, 2019, 9:58 PM
Giannis Antetokounmpo accepts the Kia NBA Most Valuable Player award onstage during the 2019 NBA Awards presented by Kia on TNT at Barker Hangar on June 24, 2019 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Turner Sports)
(Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Turner Sports)
SANTA MONICA, Calif. — The Milwaukee Bucks fell two games short of the NBA Finals.
They won big at the NBA Awards.
A tearful Giannis Antetokounmpo earned Most Valuable Player honors and Mike Budenholzer won Coach of the Year on Monday night in Santa Monica.
Antetokounmpo, a 24-year-old forward from Greece, beat out Paul George of Oklahoma City and James Harden of Houston, who won last year.
The 2018-19 #KiaMVP is… @Giannis_An34! #NBAAwards pic.twitter.com/kcJNji3dl8
— NBA (@NBA) June 25, 2019
Antetokounmpo averaged 27.7 points and 12.5 rebounds while earning All-NBA first-team honors this season, his sixth with the Bucks. He led the franchise to the best record in the regular season and the Bucks reached the Eastern Conference finals.
Tears rolled down his cheeks as Antetokounmpo thanked his mother and brothers who were in the audience at Barker Hanger. He credited his late father for pushing him toward his goals and credited his teammates and coaching staff for their help.
The 2018-19 NBA Basketball Executive of the Year is… Jon Horst of the @Bucks! #NBAAwards pic.twitter.com/scezDPeNVo
— NBA (@NBA) June 25, 2019
Budenholzer also got choked up while thanking his family after his second coaching honor. He earned the trophy for the first time with Atlanta in 2015.
He guided the Bucks to a 60-22 record in the regular season in his first year with the franchise, leading them to the Eastern Conference finals, where they lost to eventual NBA champion Toronto.
Mike Budenholzer of the @Bucks wins the 2018-19 NBA Coach of the Year! #NBAAwards pic.twitter.com/GdLytcP7KK
— NBA (@NBA) June 25, 2019
Budenholzer also coached Team Giannis in the All-Star Game last season.
He beat out Denver’s Mike Malone and Doc Rivers of the Los Angeles Clippers.
