Tom Thibodeau did something no New York Knicks head coach hadn’t been able to do in 25 years. Make the Knicks relevant again.

In his fifth season, Thibodeau led New York to a top-three seed in the Eastern Conference. However, the playoff run ended in disappointment, as the Knicks fell to Tyrese Haliburton and the Indiana Pacers in the conference finals.

Just as Thibs seemed poised to lead the Knicks back to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999, the rug was pulled from under him. In a major shift, the Knicks fired the defensive-minded Thibodeau and replaced him with Mike Brown, a coach known for favoring a faster tempo. Brown, a disciple of Steve Kerr’s pace-and-space methodology that powered the Golden State Warriors to four NBA championships in eight years, brings a new approach.

Brown takes over a Knicks squad led by reigning Clutch Player of the Year Jalen Brunson.

Brunson, who averaged 26.0 points and 7.3 assists per game last season, is the unquestioned leader of the Knicks and arguably the franchise’s best star player since Patrick Ewing. Brunson, along with Knicks teammates Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges, played college ball at Villanova.

In Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, the Knicks have one of the best guard-center combos in the league, and Brown will lean on both to help him establish a more diversified offensive attack.

Towns fit in seamlessly with the Knicks and earned a fifth All-Star selection. OG Anunoby, Bridges, and Hart formed a sturdy perimeter wall, locking down opposing wings and bringing toughness on both ends of the floor. The Knicks, with their core under contract for the next few years, are well-positioned to contend for a championship. The last time the Knicks won an NBA title, “The French Connection” won Best Picture at the Oscars. That was 54 years ago.

OneManFastBreak projects the top eight teams in the Eastern Conference.

1-New York Knicks — Devastating Achilles’ injuries to Boston’s Jayson Tatum and Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton open the door for the Knicks to climb into the top spot and become beast of the East. The addition of free agents Jordan Clarkson and Guerschon Yabusele should bolster the Knicks bench.

2-Cleveland Cavaliers — The Cavs won 64 regular-season games a season ago but got bounced early in the postseason. The pressure is on All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell to help the Cavs rebound from last season’s disappointing finish.

3-Detroit Pistons — Cade Cunningham took his game to a new level under J.B. Bickerstaff. Motor Cade got a taste of the postseason last season, and another year under his belt will only increase his stock. Jaden Ivey returns to the lineup after missing 52 games due to a knee injury.

4-Milwaukee Bucks — Giannis Antetokounmpo is coming off a superb summer, leading his Greek national team to a bronze medal at EuroBasket. As long as the Greek Freak is healthy and happy, the Bucks will always be a threat.

5-Orlando Magic — The addition of shooting guard Desmond Bane should make life a little easier for Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero. Wagner is coming off a sensational summer after helping Germany win a gold medal at EuroBasket.

6-Atlanta Hawks — The Hawks opted not to offer point guard Trae Young a max extension. Trae will be highly motivated to show the Hawks that he’s worth the $229 million investment.

7-Miami Heat — Heat Culture took a hit last season, winning only 37 games and finishing 12th in the conference. Erik Spoelstra won’t let it happen again, and he’ll have a new spark plug in Norman Powell to fire up the offense.

8-Boston Celtics — Tatum’s Achilles’ tear drastically alters the Celtics’ plans for this season, but it doesn’t mean they are going to tank. Finals MVP Jaylen Brown is still on the roster, and expect expanded roles for Payton Pritchard and Derrick White.

Play-In teams: Chicago Bulls and Philadelphia 76ers

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander put a stamp on his remarkable 2024-25 season after leading the Oklahoma City Thunder to the city’s first NBA championship.

SGA joined a very short list of players who won an NBA title, regular season MVP and NBA Finals MVP while leading the league in scoring. The list includes Michael Jordan, Shaquille O’Neal, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and SGA. Before SGA’s amazing season, Shaq was the last scoring leader to win a championship and MVPs in the same season. Jordan is the only player to pull off the rare feat more than once (1991, 1992, 1996, 1998). Jordan and Shai, who averaged a league-leading 32.7 points per game, are the only guards to win a scoring title and championship in the same season.

“It’s hard to believe I’m even part of that group,” Gilgeous-Alexander said during his postgame media session with the Bill Russell Finals MVP trophy sitting on the table. “It’s hard the fathom that I’m that type of basketball player. As a kid, you dream. Every kid dreams. But you don’t really know if it’s gonna come true. I’m just glad my dreams were able to come true.”

Shai also became the first player since Stephen Curry in 2015 to win MVP and a championship in the same season, and first player since LeBron James in 2013 to win regular season MVP and Finals MVP honors in the same season.

Where does Shai rank on OneManFastBreak’s annual top-five list? Take a look at this year’s OMFB Furious Five.

***

Each year OneManFastBreak.net ranks the five best players in the NBA. The OMFB Furious Five pays homage to the five styles of Chinese martial arts: snake, crane, monkey, praying mantis, and tiger.

The ranking system is based on one man’s opinion and does not follow or conform to any standard format, with more emphasis placed on how each player and their respective teams performed in the postseason. Stars are born during the regular season, but legends are made in the playoffs.

In 2024, OMFB Furious Five featured Jaylen Brown (5), Giannis Antetokounmpo (4), Luka Doncic (3), Jayson Tatum (2), Nikola Jokic (1).

Without further ado, here are the five best basketball players in the world.

5-JALEN BRUNSON
New York Knicks, Guard

Jalen Brunson’s arrival in New York may be one of the league’s most transformative acquisitions of the past decade. The two-time NCAA champion from Villanova has blossomed into one of the NBA’s best players after spending four seasons riding the pine in Dallas.

Jalen is arguably the most impactful player to wear a Knicks jersey since Patrick Ewing, and he’s giving New York its best shot at ending a five-decade title drought. Brunson was named to the 2025 All-NBA second team and received the Clutch Player of the Year for his uncanny ability to deliver big shots in the big moments for the Knicks.

During the regular season, he averaged 26.0 points and 7.3 assists across 35.4 minutes per game in 65 games. He amped it up in the postseason, averaging 29.4 points and leading the Knicks to their first appearance in the Eastern Conference finals in 25 years. He hit the 30-point mark in four of the six games in the conference finals against the Pacers, but it wasn’t enough as the Knicks fell in six games.

A week after being eliminated, the Knicks fired head coach Tom Thibodeau. Knicks brass felt the team — with Brunson as the leader — is close to winning a championship, and it was time for a new voice and a coach who can help Brunson and the Knicks get over the hump. Brunson’s decision to sign a four-year, $156.5 million extension shows he’s prioritizing bringing a championship to New York above all else. He could have signed a five-year, $269.1 million max deal, but by giving the Knicks the hometown discount and allowing the franchise salary cap flexibility.

4-GIANNIS ANTETOKOUNMPO
Milwaukee Bucks, Forward

A calf strain forced Giannis Antetokounmpo to watch his Bucks get eliminated by the Indiana Pacers in the first round of the 2024 playoffs. This year, Giannis and Bucks watched Damian Lillard rupture his Achilles tendon in the first round and the Pacers eliminated the Bucks for a second straight season.

Giannis put together another outstanding season, averaging 30.4 points (second in NBA), 11.9 rebounds (sixth in NBA), a career-high-tying 6.5 assists and 1.2 blocks per game while shooting 60.1% from the field (sixth in NBA). Giannis led the Bucks to the 2024 Emirates NBA Cup championship and named the Emirates NBA Cup MVP.

As long as Giannis is healthy and playing, the Bucks remain one of the top teams in the East. But for how long will he keep playing for the Bucks? Only Giannis knows the answer.

“I feel like there’s a lot of time that life has made me said or, like, frustrated since I was a kid – I never gave up,” Antetokounmpo said following the Bucks’ season-ending loss to the Indiana Pacers. “I always try to find solutions in my life, which I think it translates to the basketball court. I always try to, even though things might not happen the way I want it to happen, I always have class and I have this optimistic mentality of coming back, keep on working and there’s going to be a day that’s gonna be your turn. It cannot always go your way.”

3-TYRESE HALIBURTON
Indiana Pacers, Guard

Tyrese Haliburton redefined what it meant to be “clutch” in the 2025 NBA postseason. Since the NBA’s play-by-play era began in the 1996-97 season, LeBron James has the most postseason shots to either tie or take the lead in the final three seconds of regulation or overtime with eight. Before the 2025 postseason, no one else had more than four in nearly the past 30 years. Haliburton delivered four game-tying or game-winning shots in one postseason run — one clutch shot in each round.

The 25-year-old Pacers point guard played like a man possessed. You could tell Hali was bothered by being labeled “overrated” by an anonymous panel of his peers, which was published by The Athletic. Haliburton wore that “overrated” label like a badge of honor. He used the disrespect as motivation in authoring the greatest playoff run by a single player. He took it out on his peers, sending them home in the playoffs one by one.

Haliburton sent Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks home in the first round and he sent Donovan Mitchell and the Cleveland Cavaliers home in the conference semifinals. Both series ended in five games, with Haliburton playing a key role in slamming the door. Haliburton gave us one of the most iconic moments in sports with his game-tying shot at Madison Square Garden, making him public enemy No. 1 in New York City.

The Pacers came back from a nine-point deficit in 52.5 seconds in Game 1, with Haliburton sinking a dagger jump shot that bounced five feet in the air before swishing through the net. The dagger shot and the choke sign celebration — an ode to Reggie Miller’s pose in front of Spike Lee — will linger in the memories of Knicks fans for a long time. The “Hali Clutch Tour” rolled into Oklahoma City in the Game 1 of the NBA Finals and didn’t disappoint. Haliburton’s 21-foot jumper with 0.3 seconds left gave Indiana its first and only lead of the game as the Pacers struck down the Thunder 111-110. “Man, basketball’s fun. Winning is fun,” Haliburton said after his game winner.

An Achilles injury was the only thing that derailed the Haliburton train. He seemingly was well on his way to a big Game 7 in the NBA Finals when his Achilles tendon snapped seven minutes into the first quarter. When Hali fell to the ground he pounded the floor, not just from the pain he was feeling on his foot but from the emotional pain. His body failed him at the worst possible time.

2-NIKOLA JOKIC
Denver Nuggets, Center

Nikola Jokic has been so consistently good the past five years that we’ve grown accustomed to his basketball brilliance.

The Joker is one of nine players to win at least three MVPs, joining Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (6), Michael Jordan (5), Bill Russell (5), Wilt Chamberlain (4), LeBron James (4), Larry Bird (3), Magic Johnson (3) and Moses Malone (3).

Jokic had the best season of his career in 2024-25, which is absurd considering Joker is a three-time MVP and 2023 NBA champion. This past season, he averaged a career-high 29.6 points, 12.7 rebounds, a career-high 10.2 assists and a career-high 1.8 steals while shooting 57.6% from the field and a career-high 41.7% from three in 36.7 minutes per game. He became just the third player in NBA history to average a triple double for a single season, joining Russell Westbrook and Oscar Robertson. Westbrook and Robertson are guards and primary ball handlers, which makes Jokic’s triple-double season even more impressive considering he’s a center.

The big man from Serbia was named to his fifth All-NBA first-team selection for the fifth consecutive year and finished second in the MVP voting. He led the Denver Nuggets to the second round before losing to Oklahoma City in seven games. Jokic’s size and skill gave OKC all kinds of problems, and if the Nuggets had better production from their bench they might have knocked off OKC.

Time will tell where Jokic will ultimately land on the list of all-time great centers. Jokic’s resume speaks for itself. But in order for Joker to match or surpass Kareem, Russell, Wilt, Moses, Hakeem, Shaq, and Duncan, he needs to win more than just one NBA championship.

And now, the No. 1 player in the world. Drum roll please . . .

1-SHAI GILGEOUS-ALEXANDER
Oklahoma City Thunder, guard

Lou Williams had a front row seat to Shai’s early development having been his teammate during SGA’s rookie season with the Clippers. He observed how Shai dedicated himself to improving at just 20 and is now seeing him emerge as one of the best basketball players in the world at age 26.

Lou Will said this about Shai on the “Run It Back” podcast on FanDuel TV: “He was always a responsible player who carried himself like a mature professional. He had big aspirations and was clear about his endgame. He knew his abilities.”

SGA embodies the qualities of a throwback player who understands the importance of consistency and patience in achieving the ultimate goal of winning a championship.

Behind Gilgeous-Alexander, the Thunder (68-14) finished atop the NBA and tied for the sixth-best single-season record in league history. Oklahoma City outscored opponents by an NBA-record 12.9 points per game.

Gilgeous-Alexander joined Michael Jordan as the only players in NBA history to average at least 32.0 points and 6.0 assists per game and shoot 50.0% or better from the field in a season. Jordan accomplished the feat twice (1989 and 1990).

Shai had his Jordan moment in Game 4 of the NBA Finals against the Indiana Pacers. He came up big in a must-win game for the Thunder. A loss would have meant a 3-1 hole. A win meant the series tied 2-2.

The Pacers had an opportunity to put a stranglehold on the series after taking a four-point lead with four minutes left in the game. That’s when SGA put on his Batman cape and took over.

“I just tried to be aggressive. I knew what it would look like if we had lost [Game 4], and I didn’t want to go out not swinging,” SGA said about taking over in the last three minutes.

“I didn’t want to go out not doing everything in my power to try to win the game,” he added. “The guys deserve that much from me, the coaching staff deserves that much from me. I just tried to be aggressive, but also let the game come to me and not to force anything and not do anything crazy. I guess it paid off.”

Shai absolutely sensed the moment, scoring 13 of his team’s final 14 points including a contested step-back baseline jumper over Aaron Nesmith where he nearly fell to the floor but somehow regained his balance and buried a clutch shot to give OKC the lead for good.

He finished the game with a game-high 35 points on 12-for-24 shooting from the field and a perfect 10-for-10 from the free throw line in leading OKC to a 111-104 victory to tie the series. The Thunder went on to beat the Pacers in seven games to win the championship.

“That’s what it is all about. Winning, especially at this time of the season, it comes down to the moments, it’s gonna come down to end of game … it’s gonna come down to the moments where who makes winning plays,” Shai said. “I relish those moments. Love the moments, good or bad. When I was a kid shooting on my driveway, I’ve count down the clock for those moments and I now get to live it. It’s fun. I relish it.”

Joel Huerto is editor and publisher of OneManFastbreak.net. Follow and subscribe to his YouTube channel at @onemanfastbreak1.

Photo credits: Associated Press and Getty Images

Giannis Antetokounmpo was determined to win the NBA Cup. He came close in 2023, losing in the semifinals. A year later, Giannis and Milwaukee Bucks had some unfinished business in Las Vegas. They took care of business with an impressive all-around performance.

Behind a suffocating defense and a triple-double from tournament MVP Antetokounmpo, the Bucks throttled the Oklahoma City Thunder, 97-81, to claim the 2024 Emirates NBA Cup title. Giannis was a major factor on both ends of the court as he finished the game with 26 points, pulled down 19 rebounds, dished out 10 assists and had three monster blocks.

Antetokounmpo anchored a Bucks defense that stymied the high-scoring Thunder, holding them to 33.7% shooting from the field and 5-for-32 from the 3-point line. OKC star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was held nine points below his season average (21) and made just 8-for-24 shots from the field.

“We’re getting better,” Antetokounmpo told ESPN’s Malika Andrews postgame. “We know we’re leaving Vegas as a better team. I’m so proud of this group. Man, I’m so proud of this group.”

It was refreshing to see a superstar like Giannis put maximum effort during the whole NBA Cup tournament. He could have easily taken his foot off the gas pedal and saved his body for the stretch run in the spring. But you can tell he wanted to win the Cup.

When it was over, Giannis couldn’t hide his excitement after lifting the NBA Cup trophy and the tournament MVP trophy, adding to his growing collection of trophies. He was dancing and hamming it up with his teammates and coaches during the postgame celebration on the court at T-Mobile Arena.

But Giannis knows there’s more work to be done. He’s far from done hoisting trophies.

“Job is not done,” he said. “We have a lot of basketball in front of us. We have a lot of things we need to improve. We are going to continue to improve. We’re going to stay locked in because the job is not done.”

Winning the NBA Cup was extra special for this Bucks squad following a dreadful 2-8 start, and many basketball experts were wondering if the partnership between Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard was ever going to work. But head coach Doc Rivers believed his team will eventually figure it out, especially defensively.

“We struggled coming out of the gates,” Rivers said. “No one here doubted what we can be and who we can be and we just hung in there. We stuck together and this is the byproduct of a team sticking together.”

It’s easy for a team to stick together and not fall apart when the leader of the team is also the most humble and harder worker. The Bucks are Giannis’ team. He sets the tone and leads by example.

“When he’s out there playing so hard, you can’t do anything but follow his lead,” Bucks center Brook Lopez said about the two-time NBA MVP. “He’s the best player in the world. You gotta follow him. He’s such an incredible leader.”

Joel Embiid posted a question on social media after the Boston Celtics took a 3-0 lead in the 2024 NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks.

“Did the Bucks give them the championship?” Embiid said referring to the offseason move that led to Damian Lillard coming to Milwaukee and sending Jrue Holiday to the Portland Trail Blazers, who later traded Holiday to the Boston Celtics. The Celtics acquired Holiday in exchange for Malcolm Brogdon, Robert Williams, and two-first round picks.

Even though the actual deal that brought Holiday to Boston went through Portland, Embiid squarely put the blame on the Bucks for letting Holiday, one of the main contributors to Milwaukee’s 2021 NBA title, walk away and allow chief conference rival Boston to snag him and be a difference-maker in its championship run. Holiday was a two-way standout in the Celtics’ convincing 4-1 series win over the Mavericks in the 2024 NBA Finals.

Holiday’s role with the Celtics was far different than his role with the Bucks. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are Boston’s two primary scorers and the ball is in their hands the majority of the time. Holiday adjusted to his new role, playing off the ball more and playing in the dunker spot more than he’s ever had his entire career. What Holiday didn’t change was his lockdown defense.

The six-time All-NBA defensive player put on an absolute clinic on how to play on-ball defense, especially in the NBA Finals against Kyrie Irving. Irving entered the Finals smoking hot as he averaged 27 points per game in Western Conference finals. With Holiday as the primary defender on him, Irving struggled mightily against the Celtics. Irving was held to 12, 16, and 15 points in three of the five games, and he was unable to shake free from Holiday’s grip.

Holiday was the catalyst of a smothering Boston defense that held the Mavericks under 100 points four times — all Celtics victories.

On Draymond Green’s podcast, “The Draymond Green Show,” the Golden State Warriors forward said the Celtics were gifted a title thanks to the Bucks’ lack of foresight, the Blazers’ tanking, and the creative mind of general manager Brad Stevens.

Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis were the two big acquisitions by Stevens during the offseason. Both were instrumental in helping the Celtics produce a league-best 64 wins and the No. 1 overall seed in the postseason. They were significant upgrades from Robert Williams and Marcus Smart. Both were members of Boston’s 2022 Finals runner-up team.

“We knew we need to make some changes. Brad [Stevens] brought in Jrue and KP, and we were able to raise banner No. 18,” Celtics majority owner Wyc Grousbeck said while accepting the 18th championship trophy in franchise history.

Smart won NBA defensive player of the year in 2022, but he was more of a terrific help defender than a straight-up shutdown defender. He is also a world-class flopper, which hurt his team more than it helped. Holiday, by contrast, is arguably the best one-on-one defender in basketball and flopping is not in his vocabulary. A true lockdown perimeter guard who can be left on an island and be able to shut down his man with little help.

Holiday’s impact wasn’t just felt on the defensive end. His leadership and voice in the huddle were immeasurable, helping Tatum and Brown navigate through tense moments in the postseason. Holiday’s calming voice — something Smart couldn’t provide because he wore his emotions on his sleeve — was exactly what the Celtics needed to get over the hump after multiple trips to the conference finals and falling one game short of a title in 2022.

“I think there’s some other things Milwaukee could have done to keep Jrue. But yes, they did [give Boston the championship] … Joel Embiid’s question that he knew the answer to is absolutely correct,” Draymond said on his podcast. “It did give them the championship and Boston has done the job of putting it together. You got to give those guys credit … but he gave it to them.”

Even Tatum couldn’t believe the Celtics were able to acquire Holiday.

“I don’t know how they let us get him, but I’m so happy we got Jrue on our team and we’re so fortunate,” Tatum said after Game 3 in an interview with NBA TV.

The Celtics certainly wouldn’t have beaten the Mavericks in the NBA Finals without Holiday, now a two-time NBA champion.

“I’m just about winning, and I want to win, whatever it takes,” Holiday told Fox Sports. “It doesn’t matter if I score. Honestly, it doesn’t matter if I’m on the court. If I’m handing people water bottles and towels, and if that’s helping us build our confidence and good chemistry and getting us wins, then I’ll do it.”

To make sure Holiday is not going anywhere, the Celtics signed him to a four-year extension worth $135 million. The contract will keep Holiday in Boston through the 2027-28 season.

Celtics are not making the same mistake the Bucks made.

Giannis Antetokounmpo gave an honest response when TNT reporter Chris Haynes asked him why he doesn’t work out with other current NBA superstars.

“I cannot fake it,” the Milwaukee Bucks superstar said.

Antetokounmpo’s answer is a reminder of the type of special talent he is in today’s game. He combines his modern-day skillset with an old-school competitive nature. He is not interested in posting videos on social media working out with other NBA stars, which is quite refreshing when you think about it.

Can you imagine Larry Bird working out with Magic Johnson during the height of their playoff wars in the 1980s. Or can you imagine Michael Jordan seen working out with Isiah Thomas when the Detroit Pistons were bitter rivals with Jordan’s Chicago Bulls? It was unthinkable back then. But nowadays, it’s not uncommon to see NBA stars. Former NBA MVP Kevin Durant worked out with 2023 NBA Rookie of the Year Paolo Banchero. Reigning NBA MVP Joel Embiid and Boston Celtics All-Star Jayson Tatum both train with famed skills trainer coach Drew Hanlen. Hanlen is the founder of Pure Sweat, a basketball performance and strategic skills firm that has an A-list clientele that includes Embiid, Tatum, Bradley Beal, and Zach LaVine.

One NBA superstar you won’t be seeing in these viral video workouts is Giannis.

“How can you work out together when we are in the same league, we are going against one another. I’m trying to create something for my family, you’re trying to create something for your family,” Antetokounmpo said. “The reason I’m not winning a championship is you. The reason why I’m working out every single day (is you.) You are getting in my path, in my way. How the hell do I work out with you?”

Antetokounmpo is unapologetic when it comes to his temperament. He wears his heart and emotions on his sleeve. Just like the way he attacks the basket, he has a hard time holding back.

“I don’t know how to be fake,” he told Haynes, who couldn’t stop laughing while Giannis explains, in a candid and humorous way, why he finds hobnobbing with opponents is completely unnecessary.

“When you play them, you have to talk before the game with them,” Antetokounmpo said. “After the game, you have to sit down and have another conversation with them. And then when you go to the family room you see them and you gotta talk to them. And then when you see them in the post, you want to put shoulder into their chest you cannot do it because they might say after the game, ‘C’mon man. Whatcha doing?’ I cannot play the game like that.”

Giannis does make an exception. His disdain for viral video buddy workouts only applies to current NBA players. If you are retired like NBA Hall of Famer Hakeem Olajuwon, whom Giannis trained with this summer, it’s an acceptable arrangement.

“I do not work out with people playing in the NBA right now. If you are not in the NBA, I have no problem working out with you,” he said. “If you’re in the NBA and I’m gonna see you this season? As I said, when I get to the city I have to text you to come out and hang out for dinner. And then the next day I have to see you pregame and then after the game. I don’t even take wife on a date, why would I take you on a date?”

Antetokounmpo is a superstar athlete who bucks the norm. He always tries to give thoughtful responses, which is very refreshing.

He addressed his contract situation during the Bucks media day, reiterating that it does not make sense financially to sign an extension with the team this year. He said he wanted to be a Milwaukee Buck for the rest of his career as long as the Bucks are committed to winning.

“I don’t remember where I said it, but I said it did not make sense to sign a contract right now because money isn’t important. But a lot of fucking money is important, so I’m going to sign it next year,” Antetokounmpo said. “I gotta always look out for what’s best for me and my family, for my situation, but at the end of the day, I want to be a Milwaukee Buck for the rest of my career as long as we are winning. It’s as simple as that,” he said. “Like what do you expect me to say? To be a Milwaukee Buck and be a loser? That’s never going to come out of my mouth.”

Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks were shocked. The betting favorites to win the 2023 NBA title went home in the first round of the 2023 NBA playoffs, suffering through a painful 4-1 series loss to the eighth-seeded Miami Heat.

Antetokounmpo, the two-time NBA MVP and 2021 NBA champion, was forced to answer difficult questions after the Bucks became the sixth No. 1 seed to get bounced in the first round. One reporter asked Giannis if he considered the Bucks’ season a failure. The Greek Freak paused for a few seconds before delivering an impassioned response.

“It’s not a failure,” he said. “It’s steps towards success. There’s always steps to it. Michael Jordan played 15 years. He won six championships. The other nine years, he was a failure? (No.) So why do you ask me that question? It’s the wrong question.

“There’s no failure in sports. There’s good days, bad days. Some days you’re able to be successful. Some days you’re not. Some days it’s your turn. Some days it’s not your turn. And that’s what sports is about. You don’t always win. Some other people are going to win. And this year, somebody else is going to win. Simple as that.

“We’re going to come back next year, try to be better, try to build good habits, try to play better. Not have a 10-day stretch of playing bad basketball. And hopefully we can win a championship. So, for 50 years, from 1971 until we won in 2021, that we didn’t win a championship, it was 50 years of failure? No, it was not. It was steps to it. And we were able to win one. Hopefully we can win another one.”

By the end of the postgame press conference, Giannis gave a brutal but honest assessment of the Bucks’ stunning early exit. “They were playing to beat us and we were playing to win a championship”, Antetokounmpo said. “We were a little bit ahead of ourselves, to be honest.”

The rare admission from Giannis was refreshing and alarming. How can the Bucks — a team loaded with veterans with championship pedigree and armed with an MVP still in his prime — could look past the Heat in the first round? Did they think they could just jog past the Heat and expect them to advance? Did they think they had a free pass to the conference finals?

All those questions seem like valid explanations on why Milwaukee is out of the playoffs. But the largest share of the blame goes to head coach Mike Budenholzer.

Budenholzer put on a clinic on what not to do as a coach. Budenholzer treated the Heat series like the regular season. He made incremental adjustments and left his players on an island. Budenholzer was severely outcoached by Miami’s Erik Spoelstra. He also made shockingly terrible coaching decisions in the most crucial moments.

Antetokounmpo wished he could have spent more time guarding Heat superstar Jimmy Butler, but “out of respect” to Budenholzer, he played good soldier and accepted whatever the game plan was which was have Jrue Holiday stick with Butler and play drop coverage behind Holiday. “You gotta let the coach make that adjustment,” Antetokounmpo told reporters. “We have our best defender on [Butler]. There are conversations with Jrue [Holiday]. Whenever he gets tired, I can take him, but he’s so competitive. He plays so hard. He wants to take the challenge.”

Butler had a superb series, averaging 37.6 points in the five-game series and finishing with a game-high 42 points in Game 5. He had 56 points in a pivotal Game 4. Antetokounmpo did his best to keep the Bucks in the fight. He finished with 38 points and 20 rebounds in Game 5, but was an abysmal 10-for-23 from the free throw line.

The Bucks’ problems started in Game 1 when Antetokounmpo hurt his back after a hard fall. The Heat went on to steal Game 1 and Giannis missed the next two games due to the injury. The Bucks’ overly cautious approach to Giannis’ injury cost them both games in Miami, and the series was 3-1 in favor of Heat heading back to Milwaukee.

Facing elimination at home in Game 5, the Bucks blew a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter and fell apart in overtime in a 128-126 loss. Milwaukee was held to only 16 points in the fourth and looked out of sorts. Budenholzer could have helped his team but settling them down, but he was just as shaky as his squad.

Budenholzer made three egregious mistakes down the stretch. With the Bucks clinging to a two-point lead with 2.1 seconds remaining in regulation, Budenholzer took out 7-foot center Brook Lopez — a candidate for NBA defensive player of the year — and decided to “match” the Heat’s small lineup. Guard Pat Connaughton ended up under the basket to contest the alley-oop play to Heat superstar Jimmy Butler, who made an incredible circus shot to tie the game at 118.

The second major Budenholzer flub was not calling timeout after Butler’s layup. The clock stopped at 0.5 when Jrue Holiday inbounded the ball. The Bucks had a timeout left, but Coach Bud decided to pocket it. Maybe he was saving it for the next game.

Then, the final nail on the Bucks’ coffin, thanks to Coach Bud, came on the final possession in overtime. Down by two with under 10 seconds left, Giannis grabbed a missed free throw and dribbled up the court. He ran into Butler and was forced to give the ball up to Khris Middleton, who tried to make a move to the paint but was cutoff. Middleton flipped a pass to Grayson Allen, who just checked into the game and looked ice cold. Allen panicked as he passed up a 3-point shot and drove to the basket as time expired. The Bucks were able to get a shot up on the most important possession of the season.

Milwaukee had a timeout remaining but Budenholzer chose to pocket it yet again. He just watched his team implode. These are mistakes you make at the grade school level, high school level, AAU level. But not in the NBA. Budenholzer has been in the NBA since 1996. He worked as assistant for Gregg Popovich with the San Antonio Spurs, he was head coach of the Atlanta Hawks, and now the Bucks. He has been named NBA coach of the year twice. There are no excuses for his coaching blunders in the 2023 playoffs.

At the end of the day, if a game is a blowout it’s on the players. If a game is close, it’s on the head coach. Budenholzer failed his team and the Bucks must take a hard look if Coach Bud is the right guy for the job.

“Mike Budenholzer’s status as Bucks head coach is very much shaky, there are questions across the organization,” NBA insider Shams Charania reported. Budenholzer has two years and $16 million left on his contract.

Few coaches can match Budenholzer’s 69.3% regular-season winning percentage (271-120) over the last five seasons. The Bucks had the best record in the NBA in three of them. But in each of those seasons they didn’t reach the NBA Finals, and three times they exited before the conference finals.

“There’s some losses for which there’s just no going back,” said ESPN insider Zach Lowe on his podcast. “You cannot [bring] back the same team.”

Lowe said league insiders are extremely skeptical that Budenholzer can return as head coach of the Bucks after this collapse.

For 34 years, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s 38,387 points stood as the gold standard of NBA records. It was a record many thought would never be broken. LeBron James did the unthinkable when he broke Kareem’s longstanding record on Feb. 7, 2023 to become the NBA’s all-time leading scorer. It was a crowning achievement for King James, and deserved all the accolades.

But let’s not forget the greatness of Kareem. His all-time scoring record may have been broken, but his basketball accomplishments remain unmatched. And his signature skyhook is still basketball’s greatest offensive weapon. It was graceful. It was lethal. It was poetry in motion. Above it all, it was unstoppable. Everyone in the arena knew the skyhook was coming, yet nobody could stop it. You could hear legendary Lakers play-by-play announcer Chick Hearn describe the shot as only he could. “The ball goes inside to the Kareem. He swings left. Shoots right. Skyhook from 12 feet … good!”

Kareem’s skyhook helped him win six regular-season NBA MVPs and six NBA championships during his 20-year Hall of Fame career — 14 with the L.A. Lakers and six with the Milwaukee Bucks.

We could have a legitimate debate on what’s the best move in basketball. You make a strong case for Hakeem Olajuwon’s dream shake. Dirk Nowitzki’s one-legged fadeaway. George Gervin’s finger roll. Tony Parker’s floater. But there’s simply no argument here when it comes to the effectiveness and the surgical precision of Kareem’s skyhook.

The Showtime Lakers dynasty in the 1980s was best known for its free-wheeling, fast-breaking offense. Magic Johnson was the maestro of basketball’s version of the Greatest Show on Earth. Magic would yo-yo up and down the court, hitting a streaking James Worthy on the wing for a slam dunk or finding Byron Scott for a 3-point shot or throwing an alley-oop to Michael Cooper. But when the Lakers were forced to slow down and play half-court offense, Magic would signal for the “fist play,” which means the ball is going inside to The Captain and let him do what he does best. Swing left, shoot right. Skyhook from 12 feet. Good.

Kareem’s skyhook played pivotal roles in game-winning situations. The skyhook beat Boston at the buzzer in double-overtime in Game 6 of the 1974 NBA Finals. He hooked another buzzer-beater in Magic’s NBA debut in 1979, a game in which Magic famously jumped into the arms of Abdul-Jabbar, who then reminded the rookie there were 81 more games to go. In the series-clinching game of the 1985 NBA Finals at Boston Garden, 38-year-old Kareem knocked down skyhook after skyhook to exorcise Celtics demons and lead the Lakers to their first Finals victory over their hated rivals in nine meetings. And when Kareem broke Wilt Chamberlain’s all-time scoring record in 1984 in Las Vegas, he went to his signature shot.

Abdul-Jabbar explained the genius of the skyhook to former Los Angeles Times columnist and ESPN writer J.A. Adande in the most scientific way.

“When you shoot it, you force people to wait for you to go up. And if they wait until I started to shoot it then they’d have to judge the distance and time it, and it’s gone before they can catch up to it. That’s, for me, the beauty of it,” Abdul-Jabbar told Adande. “You’re in control because of when you’re gonna release it and where. The defense has to see that and calculate everything before they get an opportunity to block it.”

When it comes to combined basketball resume — from high school to college to pro — Kareem is still the undisputed champion.

At the high school level, Kareem — then known as Lew Alcindor — led Power Memorial Academy to a 79-2 record and won three straight New York City championships. In college, Kareem led UCLA to three straight NCAA titles and was named national player of the year three times.

UCLA went 88-2 in the three seasons Abdul-Jabbar played on the varsity squad. Only a ridiculous NCAA rule prevented Abdul-Jabbar from winning four NCAA titles because at the time freshmen were not allowed to play on varsity. UCLA went undefeated in 1967, going 30-0 and winning the national championship, then 29-1 in each of the next two seasons.

Kareem was part of college basketball’s “Game of the Century.” On Jan. 20, 1968, UCLA took on the Houston Cougars in the first nationally televised regular-season college basketball game, with 52,693 in attendance at the Astrodome. Houston was led by future basketball Hall of Famer Elvin Hayes.

Hayes scored 39 points and had 15 rebounds, while Kareem, suffering from his eye injury, was held to just 15 points as Houston won 71–69, ending UCLA’s 47-game winning streak. Kareem got his revenge two months later in the semifinals of the NCAA tournament, where UCLA defeated Houston 101–69 en route to winning the NCAA title.

In four years at UCLA, Abdul-Jabbar scored 2,325 points. He averaged 26.4 points per game in an era when there was no 3-point shot and players weren’t allowed to dunk a ball. If we added up Abdul-Jabbar’s UCLA points with his NBA total, he would have finished with 40,712 points.

LeBron broke Kareem’s all-time scoring record during his 20th NBA season at 38 years old. A remarkable accomplishment for LeBron that shouldn’t be minimized. LeBron was averaging 29.9 points per game when he became the NBA’s all-time leading scorer. Just for context, when Kareem was 38 he averaged 23.4 points and started 79 games. Kareem went on to win NBA titles at ages 39 and 40 before retiring at 41 after the Lakers were swept by the Detroit Pistons in the 1989 NBA Finals.

Kareem believes he could have played longer, but explained to ClutchPoints that the travel grind became unbearable. “I didn’t even get to ride in airplanes. I mean, charter planes, you know? We had to get up at six and five o’clock and go take a commercial flight,” he told CluthPoints.

“Man, these guys don’t know how well they’re treated, you know? It’s a big difference now,” he continued. “It’s just that I know now that I can see since I retired that if we had flown in charter jets, I could’ve played a couple more years and played well. … I think that was the toughest thing to deal with, you know, just the grind of the schedule and having to get those early morning flights.”

The skyhook is not hard to learn. According to Kareem, it teaches you how to use footwork, hand-and-eye coordination, extension and follow through. He tried teaching it to other centers who came after him (like Andrew Bynum). But for whatever reason, it never stuck. Today’s players would rather emulate Stephen Curry’s low-percentage 3-point shot than the high-percentage hook.

Kareem was gracious after LeBron surpassed his record. He said he was glad he was able to be in the arena when it happened and be part of the historic moment.

“Wilt wasn’t able to be in Las Vegas when I broke his record,” said the 75-year-old Hall of Famer. “To me, I did it the right way and make sure that LeBron knew that I supported what he was doing. This something very special. Happy to help him celebrate it.”

Kareem added, “You saw how emotional LeBron was. This was something he had to work for. It was part of what he wanted to do with his career.”

While the basketball world celebrated LeBron’s achievement, let’s take a moment to remember and appreciate the greatness of the man who held the NBA’s all-time scoring record for nearly four decades. Take a bow, Cap.

Christmas Day for basketball fans is the unofficial start of the “real season,” when contenders begin to separate themselves from the pretenders.

Seven of the top 10 teams and seven of the 10 best players in the NBA are playing on Christmas Day. There’s no shortage of star power when ABC starts its live marathon live coverage at noon ET.

But this year there’s major competition.

The NFL has a three-game slate on Dec. 25. Aaron Rodgers’ Green Bay Packers take on the Miami Dolphins at 1 p.m. ET followed by the Denver Broncos-L.A. Rams at 4:30 p.m. ET. The prime-time game at 8:20 p.m. ET features Tom Brady’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers against the Arizona Cardinals.

Football is king when it comes to TV ratings, so the NBA will have to compete for viewers on a day when it usually owns the viewing audience. To help solve this viewing dilemma, OneManFastBreak.net has tagged three must-see NBA games. The other two games, well, let’s just say you’re fee to switch channel to the NFL games.

Must-see games
Philadelphia 76ers vs. New York Knicks (noon ET, ABC/ESPN) — The Knicks enter Christmas Day as one of the hottest teams in the league. They’ve won eight in a row and now currently sit among the top six teams in the Eastern Conference. The offseason acquisition of point guard Jalen Brunson has solidified New York’s once shaky backcourt. Brunson is the perfect tough-as-nails leader head coach Tom Thibodeau has been seeking since his days with the Chicago Bulls. Brunson takes the pressure of forward Julius Randle and knows how to win close ballgames, which was a big problem last season. The Sixers have been coasting so far, but they still have MVP candidate Joel Embiid. When Embiid decides to take over a game, there are few people on planet Earth who can slow him down. Madison Square Garden will be rocking for this sexy matchup.

Boston Celtics vs. Milwaukee Bucks (5 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN) — This could very well be a preview of the East finals. Both teams enter the colossal showdown with their full compliment of players. Khris Middleton, who missed last year’s playoff series with a knee injury, is starting to get back into shape. Middleton is the Robin to Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Batman. The Celtics welcome back center Robert Williams, who was vital to their run to the NBA Finals last season. Jayson Tatum is enjoying an MVP season and his running mate, Jaylen Brown, is making a strong case to make the All-NBA squad. Celtics had owned the league’s best record until a rocky West Coast trip tripped them up and allowed the Bucks to gain ground in the standings. The Bucks’ game in Milwaukee starts at 5 p.m. ET, well after the kickoff for Packers-Dolphins game. Wisconsin fans will be able to watch their Packers and their Bucks on Christmas Day.

Phoenix Suns vs. Denver Nuggets (10:30 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN) — The Suns-Nuggets game is the last NBA game on the Christmas Day schedule. The first quarter of Suns-Nuggets might be a skip since most of us will be watching the end of the Buccaneers-Cardinals game when Brady leads the Bucs to victory over a depleted Cards squad. Once the NFL prime-time game is over, you can tune in to Suns-Nuggets. Both teams don’t like each other. During the 2021 playoffs, the Suns swept the Nuggets and Nikola Jokic was ejected in the clincher for a hard foul on Cameron Payne. Jokic and Devin Booker had to be separated after a heated exchange. Jokic’s brothers got involved in the bruhaha when they yelled at Booker from the stands. We could see fireworks again.

Skip these games
Memphis Grizzlies vs. Golden State Warriors (8 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN) — A once promising matchup turned into a sour showdown after reigning Finals MVP Steph Curry injured his left shoulder and will be sidelined for a few weeks. Without Curry, the Warriors are a shell of themselves. There’s some bad blood between the Grizzlies and Warriors, so this could have been spicy. The Dubs-Griz game will be going head-to-head with Bucs-Cards, and we all know America will always choose football over basketball. It’s OK. This game could get ugly, anyways.

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Dallas Mavericks (2:30 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN) — Not even LeBron James and Luka Doncic can save this awful matchup. The Lakers won’t have All-Star Anthony Davis and the Mavericks are struggling to find four other guys to play with Doncic. If LeBron was playing Luka one-on-one, then this game actually be interesting. But as currently constructed, it’s a battle of two teams closer to the bottom of the conference.

Giannis Antetokounmpo got a taste of championship champagne and now he wants more.

After leading the Milwaukee Bucks to their first NBA title since 1971, the two-time league MVP and newly minted 2021 NBA Finals MVP said he is not satisfied and has his sights set on repeating as champion.

“I’m not even close to being satisfied,” Antetokounmpo said. “As the leader of the team, that’s the tone I’m gonna set. We understand teams are coming for us. We’re gonna be ready.”

Antetokounmpo and the Bucks have extra motivation because they’re not favored to win in the 2021-22 season. The Brooklyn Nets, the team the Bucks eliminated in the 2021 Eastern Conference semifinals, are the betting favorites (+250) to win the title followed by the Lakers (+400), according to FanDuel. The Bucks have the third-best odds (+650) to win it all.

“We know we’re the 2021 NBA champs,” Giannis said. “But right now, we’re just the Milwaukee Bucks, and nobody believes in us. And nobody believes we can do it again.”

Antetokounmpo might be exaggerating a bit when he said “nobody” believes in the Bucks. There are many — including OneManFastBreak — who fear the deer. OMFB predicts the playoff order in the Western and Eastern conferences, including the eight teams in the play-in brackets.

EASTERN CONFERENCE (TOP 6)

1-Brooklyn Nets (projected record 59-23) — The Kyrie Irving anti-vaccine drama has sucked up much of the oxygen inside the Nets’ locker room this offseason, and a resolution can’t come soon enough. Irving’s availability is vital to the Nets’ title hopes, but it’s not a deal-breaker. With or without Kyrie, Steve Nash’s unit has the most potent offense in the NBA, ranking at the top or near it in points (119), field goal percentage (49.4), and 3-point shooting (39.2). As long as Kevin Durant and James Harden are healthy, Brooklyn will be the heavy favorite in the East.

2-Milwaukee Bucks (58-24) — The biggest challenge for Giannis Antetokounmpo and Co. will be how they deal with having targets on their backs every night. They now go from being the hunters to being the hunted. The Bucks lost defensive stopper P.J. Tucker to free agency, but the core of the 2021 championship team returns for head coach Mike Budenholzer. The Bucks brass brought back veteran guard George Hill, who will serve as a solid backup plan at point or shooting guard. And at the end of the day, the Bucks still have the Greek Freak.

3-Atlanta Hawks (50-32) — When Nate McMillan took over the helm, the Hawks took off. They became a completely different team. Trae Young blossomed into more of a traditional point guard under McMillan, shedding some of the wild shots he was known for during his first two seasons and becoming a true playmaker. Young took fewer shots per game (down from 20.8 to 17.7) but maintained his assists (9.4). Young’s ascent into elite status is crucial to how far the Hawks can go and prove to naysayers that last season’s playoff run wasn’t a fluke.

4-Miami Heat (49-33) — After taking a big step back last season following an NBA Finals appearance in the bubble, the Heat upgraded their point guard position by acquiring veteran Kyle Lowry. Lowry’s playmaking ability will fix some of the woes Miami had on offense, which at times became stagnant and reliant on Jimmy Butler. Fresh off a gold medal in the Tokyo Olympics, Bam Adebayo came into camp in fantastic shape and added a face-up jumper. Tyler Herro looks to rebound after a disappointing sophomore season.

5-Philadelphia 76ers (48-34) — Awkward. That’s the status of the 76ers organization and All-Star forward Ben Simmons. Simmons wants out of Philly but Philly can’t find a deal that would satisfy both sides. Sixers president Daryl Morey and head coach Doc Rivers are put in an uncomfortable position. They must navigate through this Simmons mess while trying to contend for a title. Philly won’t be able to move forward until they figure out what to do with their petulant star.

6-New York Knicks (46-36) — Tom Thibodeau squeezed out every ounce of talent and energy from his squad last season and surprised many by finishing in the top four. New York was one of the best defensive teams in the league and forward Julius Randle elevated his game to All-Star level. But with every Thibodeau team, it’s extremely difficult to maintain this hard-charging style. Expect a drop-off this season.

PLAY-IN TEAMS

7-Chicago Bulls (43-39) — The Bulls added some nice pieces in the offseason and are now primed to make their first playoffs appearance in four seasons. The addition of point guard Lonzo Ball, forward DeMar DeRozan, and utility man Alex Caruso gives head coach Billy Donovan three solid pieces to fit with All-Star guard Zach LaVine. Ball was the big free-agent catch, signing a four-year, $85 million contract. LaVar Ball just keeps winning. Neva lost!

8-Charlotte Hornets (41-41) — Reigning NBA rookie of the year LaMelo Ball gave us a taste of what a Big Baller looks like and his basketball brilliance is making a once-moribund franchise into one of the most exciting teams in the league. You can almost hear LaVar Ball in the background saying, “I told you so!” Charlotte will have eight nationally televised games in 2021-22 and it’s all because of LaMelo.

9-Boston Celtics (40-42) — Ime Udoka, 44, takes over for Brad Stevens, who left the coaching bench after six seasons to become team president. Udoka’s first order of business is to fix the Celtics’ woeful ball movement (25th in assists). Celtics won’t have Kemba Walker to dump on as the 34-year-old guard packed his bags for New York after two underwhelming seasons in Boston. Udoka will lean heavily on forwards Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Boston sorely missed Brown (injured wrist) in the playoffs, and his mere presence will open up the floor for Tatum.

10-Indiana Pacers (39-43) — Rick Carlisle is back at the helm in Indiana, replacing Nate Bjorkgren, who was let go after one season. This isn’t Carlisle’s first rodeo in Indiana. He was the Pacers head coach from 2003-07 and was Larry Bird’s top assistant for three seasons. Getting healthy will be the No. 1 priority for Carlisle’s crew, and he has a nice building block in big man Domantas Sabonis.

WESTERN CONFERENCE (TOP 6)

1-Phoenix Suns (56-26) — After finishing with the second-best regular-season record a year ago, the Suns are poised to make the jump as the No. 1 team in the West after coming within two wins of winning it all. Phoenix returns the same group that started the 2021 NBA Finals. Monty Williams is finally getting the recognition he deserves as one of the top coaches in the league. Deandre Ayton’s growth and development into an elite center elevated the Suns into a Western powerhouse. However, the Suns declined to give Ayton the max contract extension, which means 2021-22 is a prove-it-to-me-again season for the 2018 No. 1 overall draft pick.

2-Utah Jazz (55-27) — Utah finished with the best record in the conference last season but bowed out in the second round of the postseason, leaving a bad taste in the mouths of Donovan Mitchell and Co. If Mitchell wants to be considered among the 10 best players in the league, he has to expand his game. Scoring comes easy for Mitchell. What the Jazz need is a playmaker who can create shots for others. Mitchell believes he is up to the task.

3-Golden State Warriors (51-31) — Steph Curry is coming off one of his best seasons, which says a lot considering he’s a two-time league MVP with three championship rings. Warriors general manager Bob Myers calls Curry “a generational player who has changed the game and won consistently at the highest level.” Curry should get his Splash Brother back this season. Klay Thompson hasn’t played in two years coming off ACL and Achilles’ tear surgeries. His return will provide the boost the Dubs need to make a postseason run.

4-Denver Nuggets (50-32) — The Nuggets opened up the vault and gave Michael Porter Jr. ($172 million) and Aaron Gordon ($92 million) massive contracts. MPJ has a huge upside and has shown flashes of becoming a superstar. The Nuggets need MPJ to reach his immense potential and become an All-Star if Denver is going to overtake the Suns, Jazz, and Lakers.

5-Memphis Grizzlies (46-36) — The grit-and-grind style is back in Memphis, and head coach Taylor Jenkins seems to have found the right blend of gritty players to play with flashy point guard Ja Morant. Morant is one of the most dynamic players in the league and the Grizzlies could win their division as long as Ja stays healthy. Dillon Brooks and Kyle Anderson are tough, versatile wing players who don’t mind doing the dirty work. Former Oklahoma City center Steven Adams was brought in to add more muscle to the Memphis frontcourt.

6-Los Angeles Lakers (45-37) — Much has been said about the Lakers having the oldest roster in the NBA, with nine players over the age of 32. LeBron James turns 37 and enters his 19th season. LeBron said he doesn’t want to hear about minutes restrictions. Anthony Davis holds the key to the Lakers’ season. The often-injured All-Star forward has never played more than 75 games in a season, and his last healthy full season came in 2020 when L.A. a title in the Orlando bubble. Davis needs to have an MVP-type season in order for the Lakers to raise their 18th championship banner.

PLAY-IN TEAMS

7-Dallas Mavericks (44-34) — Jason Kidd returns to Dallas to replace Rick Carlisle as Mavs coach. The first order of business for Kidd is to find a way to reduce first-team All-NBA superstar Luka Doncic’s usage rate without sacrificing all the wonderful things Luka brings to the court. The second order of business for Kidd is to find a way to light a fire in Kristaps Porzingis, who has been nonexistent in the last two seasons.

8-Los Angeles Clippers (43-39) — Paul George said he’s ready to be the No. 1 guy while Kawhi Leonard recovers from a partially torn ACL. PG13 shut down his haters with a solid postseason, turning into Playoff P and carrying the Clips into the conference finals before being eliminated by Phoenix. The Clippers re-signed Reggie Jackson to a two-year deal, believing his 2021 playoff performance wasn’t a fluke.

9-Portland Trail Blazers (42-40) — Damian Lillard felt that last season’s roster wasn’t good enough to win a championship. What did the Blazers do? They brought back the same core that lost in the first round. Instead of retooling the roster, the Blazers fired longtime coach Terry Stotts and replaced him with Chauncey Billups. Lillard is giving Billups one season to show what he can do.

10-Sacramento Kings (40-42) — This could be the year when the Kings finally brought the franchise’s 15-year playoff drought. Luke Walton is entering his third season as coach, and it could be his final one if the Kings miss the playoffs. Sacramento upgraded its defense by drafting Baylor stopper Davion “Off Night” Mitchell to help improve one of the worst perimeter defensive units in the league.

Giannis Antetokounmpo enjoyed his first trip to the NBA Finals. (Getty Images)

Giannis Antetokounmpo had a refreshing perspective when it came to playing in the NBA Finals. Giannis wasn’t born in the United States. He was born in Greece to Nigerian parents. He wasn’t a five-star recruit. He wasn’t exposed to the AAU circuit. He wasn’t a high draft pick.

His journey to the NBA was different than most athletes. Once he became an All-Star player and a two-time NBA MVP, the last level before scaling his Mount Olympus was winning a championship. He could have easily joined a super team to win a title, just like LeBron James did when he left Cleveland for Miami and just like Kevin Durant did when he left Oklahoma City for Golden State. Instead, Giannis chose to stay in small-market Milwaukee.

“This is my city. They trust me. They believe in me. They believe in us,” Antetokounmpo said moments after he led the Bucks to the franchise’s second NBA title and their first pro basketball championship since 1971.

“Obviously I wanted to get the job done. But that’s my stubborn side. It’s easy to go somewhere and go win a championship with somebody else. It’s easy,” Giannis continued. “I could go to a superteam, and just do my part to win a championship. But this is the hard way to do it, and we did it. We f—ing did it.”

Antetokounmpo is built differently, literally and figuratively. The 6-11, 242-pound Greek Freak has been creating his own path since he started playing basketball at the age of 12. His story would make an interesting TV documentary. He stays humble because of his past life. Growing up in Greece, he sold watches, DVDs and CDs to help his family survive and make money after his parents came there as immigrants from Nigeria. Money was tight in their household, so Giannis shared basketball shoes with his older brother Thanasis. He wore Thanasis’ Kobe 4s when he played in a small gym in Athens.

Antetokounmpo was discovered playing in a small, worn-out gym in Athens. He began his pro basketball career for the youth teams of Filathlitikos in Athens. He moved up to the club’s senior team prior to the 2013 NBA draft. He didn’t know where Milwaukee was when the Bucks made him the 15th overall selection.

“Eight years ago, eight and a half years ago, when I came to the league, I didn’t know where my next meal will come from. My mom was selling stuff in the street. Now I’m here sitting at the top of the top. I’m extremely blessed. I’m extremely blessed,” Giannis told reporters while holding the Bill Russell NBA Finals MVP trophy and the Larry O’Brien trophy.

“If I never have a chance to sit on this table ever again, I’m fine with it. I’m fine with it,” he said. “I hope this can give everybody around the world hope. I want them to believe in their dreams.”

Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer believes Antetokounmpo’s appreciation for life is what makes him special.

“He appreciates all the little things, coming to the practice facility and getting in extra shots. He appreciates just everything,” Budenholzer said of his superstar. “When you’re around people [who appreciate life], their spirit fills you up. Just to listen to him, that’s a man who appreciates life. Appreciates everything that’s been put in front of him, attacks it, and makes everything great. I love being around him.”

When ESPN personality Rachel Nichols asked Giannis about his Finals experience, he used the word “enjoy” nearly a dozen times. “I feel like I’ve come a long way. Just to be able to sit here. Being interviewed by you guys, playing in this game, being with my teammates. It’s been a long journey. I’m trying to enjoy every single moment.”

Antetokounmpo said it’s “amazing” seeing 20,000 fans back inside the arena and almost 20,000 fans outside the arena is a win in itself after the whole shut down for a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I don’t worry about the outcome,” the Bucks All-Star forward said. “I want to enjoy the game. I want my teammates to enjoy the game. If I enjoy the game, I have an opportunity to win every game we play.”

Giannis even had a hilarious response when longtime NBA reporter Marc J. Spears asked him if it bothers him when opposing fans troll him for his very deliberate routine at the free throw line.

“Of course I notice! 20,000 people yelling 1, 2, 3, 4…”

Giannis talks about fans counting while he’s at the free throw line. pic.twitter.com/qB4BhZf9eM

— Dime (@DimeUPROXX) July 7, 2021

“I think it’s something that’s going to follow me for the rest of my career,” he said with a grin. “I just have to embrace it and have fun with it. But at the end of the line, I’m just focused on my routine, my technique, my body, and that’s it. Like I said, it’s not going to stop. I just have to learn to live with it.”

Spears followed up by asking Giannis if he hears the fans counting. “Of course I notice. Twenty thousand people yelling 1, 2, 3, 4,” he said while laughing.

Playing the game of basketball is fun. And Giannis prefers it that way. It allows him to play with freedom and passion. At times, he plays so much instinctively that basketball pundits nitpick his game like politicians grilling witnesses on Capitol Hill.

But if there’s one thing Giannis cannot be criticized for is his effort. He doesn’t cheat the game. He’ll play until he has emptied his tank. He plays with so much energy and effort that at the end of the day he’s able to live with the result.

It is this very same approach that allowed Giannis to deliver the defining moment of his basketball career in Game 4 of the 2021 NBA Finals in Milwaukee against the Phoenix Suns. TV analyst Jeff Van Gundy called it one of the greatest plays you’ll ever see. Bucks forward Pat Connaughton called it the best block of all time. Another teammate, Khris Middleton, referred to it as an “Oh shit!” moment.

For Giannis, it was simply a great hustle play.

Giannis' HUGE BLOCK helps seal the @Bucks Game 4 win! #ThatsGame#NBAFinals tied at 2-2.. Game 5 is Saturday at 9pm/et on ABC. pic.twitter.com/aanNuTUtlF

— NBA (@NBA) July 15, 2021

Giannis’ block of Ayton’s potential dunk came with 1:14 left in the fourth quarter with the Bucks ahead 101-99. Instead of the game being tied, the play ignited a Milwaukee run that put the game away.

“I thought I was gonna get dunked on, to be honest with you,” Antetokounmpo admitted. “You risk it. You kind of feel it. I felt him rolling to the rim behind me, so I knew the only chance to get a stop is just jump toward the rim and try to cover that angle for him to score.”

He continued: “I saw the play coming. I saw that [Devin Booker] was going to throw the lob and I was just going to jump vertical toward the rim. Hopefully I can be there in time, and I was there in time and was able to get a good block and go down and get two points.”

Antetokounmpo said the play didn’t catch him by surprise. He saw the play develop and used his remarkable instincts to thwart it.

“Once I saw [Booker] put the ball on one hand, he was too far for a layup. So I knew he was trying to lob it,” Antetokounmpo said. “I committed so much, I felt [Ayton] roll to the rim behind me. So I knew the only change to get a stop is to jump towards the rim and try to cover the angle and [prevent] him to score. I didn’t jump to block the ball. I jumped towards the rim. That’s what kinda helped me, put me in position to get the block.”

Reaction around the basketball community was swift. The best one may have come from former NBA player and current NBA TV analyst Greg Anthony.

He tweeted: “When you factor in everything Giannis had to do on this play! May be the single best defensive play I have ever seen!!!”

Whether it’ll be viewed as the greatest block of all time is up for debate. What can’t be debated is the fact that it’s the signature moment of Giannis’ career. What also can’t be debated is Giannis’ place in history. He will go down in history as one of the greats. He’s an MVP and he’s a champion. He did it the hard way and we could all learn from that.

“I know I’m a role model. But this should make every person, every kid, anybody around the world believe in their dreams,” Antetokounmpo said. “No matter whatever you feel when you’re down, when you don’t think it’s going to happen for you or you might not make it in your career — might be basketball, might be anything — just believe in what you’re doing and keep working.

“Don’t let nobody tell you what you can be and what you cannot do. Just believe, man. I hope I give people around the world, from Africa, from Europe, hope that it can be done. It can be done.”