Giannis Antetokounmpo is sitting at the second spot behind Nikola Jokic in the race to MVP 2025.
The Milwaukee Bucks forward, Giannis Antetokounmpo is chasing the record third NBA MVP award in 2024-25 as he shared his desire of winning the MVP award again during an interview. Antetokounmpo turned 30 on Friday and celebrated his birthday by scoring a double-double.
Giannis Antetokounmpo has won the NBA MVP award twice for the Bucks and is looking to win the third in his 30s. The Greek Freak has made a solid formation with Damian Lillard to guide the Bucks to an 11-11 record in the West.
However, Milwaukee lost to the Celtics in his birthday game where Khris Middleton made his season debut. Antetokounmpo admitted that he wants a third Most Valuable Player award. His last MVP award came in 2020 and currently, he is sitting at the second spot behind Nikola Jokic in the race to MVP 2025.
“Yeah, that definitely might put tears in my eyes,” the 8-time All-Star said earlier this week during the interview. “I do want to be part of that conversation. It lets me know I was able to help my team, carry my team, solidified (us as a team). I’m not gonna lie, it definitely means something to me.”
If Antetokounmpo wins it third time, he can go past Stephen Curry, Tim Duncan and Steve Nash. He would also join the elite club with Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Moses Malone and the current leader, Nikola Jokić. It will also be a huge achievement for the 2021 Finals MVP.
“At this point in my career, I had the conversation with my brother, I was like, man, it’s crazy to me. I had just come to a realization that I might never win another MVP,” Antetokounmpo continued. “I’m having better years than the years I won it. But hey, the league is improving, guys are playing very, very well.”
Antetokounmpo gave his thumbs up on his desire to win the MVP award this season. He said, “If I had a chance to win MVP, for sure, it would put some tears in my eyes. I’m not saying it as clickbait.”
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Steve Nash was the last player who won the NBA MVP award in the 30s and he did it twice. Michael Jordan is the oldest player to win the MVP award at the age of 35 in 1998. Derrick Rose (22) is the youngest one to win it in 2011.
The 30-year-old forward also added, “I feel basketball-wise I can I read plays better now. I know my spots way better at times. I’m not being as rushed. I’m being more poised. Yeah, I don’t know if I’m playing better, but we’ll see by the end of the year.”
Giannis Antetokounmpo is one of three players in NBA history to record 19000-plus points, 7000-plus rebounds, and 3000-plus assists through their age 30. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Kevin Garnett are the only two other players.
On his birthday, the 2-time MVP scored 30 points with 11 rebounds. He finds his name in the league’s double-double leaders. He also shared what he wants from this season. “I’m not gonna lie,” Antetokounmpo continued. “There’s two things. I wanna play in the playoffs. … You know, I haven’t had that feeling. That feeling last year was stripped away from me.
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