The NBA only hands out one individual postseason award every year and that’s the vaunted Finals MVP. So why not hand out a few more? Here is some hardware for the 2021 NBA playoffs.
MVP: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks
Two weeks ago, Antetokounmpo’s knee bent inward in what looked like a potential season-ending injury. Sunday night, he led the blitz of the Suns in Game 3 of the NBA Finals for the Bucks’ first win. He needed only 38 minutes to throw together his second consecutive 40-point double double.
In these playoffs, Antetokounmpo beat last year’s ECF champs the Heat, defeated Kevin Durant and the Nets, overcame chronic inconsistent performances from his secondary stars Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton, returned from his hyperextended knee and now seems to have moved past his free throw struggles after shooting 13 of 17 in Game 3.