Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks are set to take on the Oklahoma City Thunder in the final of the second NBA in-season tournament. The Emirates NBA Cup final will be contested on Tuesday, 8:30 p.m. ET at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. To up the stakes of the final tournament game, each player of the winning team will receive $500,000.
Antetokounmpo led the Bucks in securing their spot in the tournament finals after they defeated the Atlanta Hawks 110-102 in the semifinal on Saturday. The star forward/center finished the game with 32 points, 14 rebounds, nine assists, four blocks, and one steal.
Ahead of the final game, Giannis told reporters that he is not really thinking about the half-a-million-dollar prize. Instead, he said he is looking to win the final for the sake of the younger players on the Bucks’ roster.
“For me, I don’t think, I try not to think about the money,” Giannis Antetokounmpo said. “I think about the money when we’re talking about the young guys. Personally, I try not to think about the money, I think about the game. I don’t play basketball—anymore—for the money.”
Giannis:
“I want to leave a legacy… I want my kids to look back and say ‘That guy was a bad mf’er.” https://t.co/uutMM25QbM
— Brett Siegel (@BrettSiegelNBA) December 16, 2024
The eight-time NBA All-Star also discussed the potential impact of the prize money for those young players who serve as breadwinners for their families. He finished his comments by talking about the legacy he wants to leave for his children and family.
“For me, it’s [about] creating more art, creating more moments that I can remember, and creating more legacy for myself and something my kids can look back on and say, ‘My dad was a bad mf’er when he used to play.'”
Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks are the underdogs in the NBA Cup final
Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks are currently on a hot streak, winning 12 of their last 15 games under coach Doc Rivers. While they are on an impressive run, they are seen as a 4.5 underdog in the final in-season tournament game against the OKC Thunder.
The Bucks, currently 14-11 in the season, are looking to continue their winning ways and take home the NBA Cup after a 4-0 record in group play. Led by two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, they are riding a three-game win streak entering into the final game of the in-season tournament.
Tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/lKLqs9zGdq
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) December 16, 2024
The “Greek Freak” is averaging 32.7 points—the most points per game of any player in the league—in his 23 games so far this season. He also averages 11.5 rebounds, 6.1 assists, and 1.6 blocks.
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Dan has been active in sports since 2016 and has worked behind the scenes as a scriptwriter for basketball, volleyball, and other sports. At a time, Dan has also been working as a sports commentator for CBA Pilipinas. During the pandemic, he has also been actively writing betting articles for CashBet and BetNow.
