Giannis Antetokounmpo has been chosen the 2019-20 Kia NBA Most Valuable Player, the league announced today.

 
Antetokounmpo, who was previously awarded the 2019-20 NBA Defensive Player of the Year, becomes only the third player in NBA history to win both MVP and Defensive Player of the Year in the same season, behind Michael Jordan (1987-88) and Hakeem Olajuwon (1993-94). He is the fifth player in history to have won both accolades at the same time.

Antetokounmpo, the NBA’s 2018-19 MVP, is now the 12th player in NBA history to earn back-to-back MVP awards, and the 14th to win multiple MVPs in a career.

“We are extremely grateful to witness Giannis earn the NBA’s Most Valuable Player award for the second consecutive season and send congratulations to him and his family,” Jon Horst, the Bucks general manager, stated. “Giannis is an outstanding player, and this unprecedented performance demonstrates his exceptional work ethic, character, and drive to develop every day. He is a wonderful athlete and an even better guy, therefore it is very satisfying that he has been named our league’s MVP once more.”

“What Giannis does for our team on both ends of the court, every night, is extraordinary,” Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer stated. “As a teammate, he raises the bar for all of us with his incredible work ethic, selflessness, and desire to be the best.” He has an impact on all of us as players and people, and we are delighted to congratulate him once more on being awarded the NBA’s Most Valuable Player.”

In his seventh season, Antetokounmpo averaged 29.5 points (5th in NBA) and 13.6 rebounds (2nd in NBA) per game, both career highs, while also dishing out 5.6 assists and shooting 55.3% from the field. This season, he was the only player in the league to rank in the top 15 in both scoring and rebounding, as well as the only one to average at least 20.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game. Antetokounmpo also became the first player since Wilt Chamberlain in 1965-66, and only the third overall, to average at least 29.0 points, 13.0 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per season.

Antetokounmpo’s 2019-20 season was one of the most efficient in NBA history as he put up his MVP-winning numbers while playing 30.4 minutes per game (2nd fewest of his career), which led to him having the highest single-season Player Efficiency Rating of all-time (31.86). He also had nine games this season in which he scored 30 points in less than 30 minutes, the most by any player in league history.

Led by Antetokounmpo, the Bucks were the NBA’s top team in the regular season for the second straight season as they finished 2019-20 with a 56-17 (.767) record after going 60-22 (.732) last season. The Bucks outscored their opponents by a league-high 10.1 points per game this season and were the top scoring and rebounding team in the NBA. Milwaukee also led the league in net rating and defensive rating in 2019-20, making it the second consecutive season that it topped the NBA in both categories.

The NBA MVP award was decided by a global panel of 100 sportswriters and broadcasters. Antetokounmpo earned 85 first-place votes to win MVP over fellow finalists LeBron James and James Harden, who finished second and third respectively.

This is the fifth time the Bucks have had a player win MVP in franchise history. In addition to Antetokounmpo the past two seasons, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar earned MVP honors for the 1970-71, 1971-72 and 1973-74 seasons. Milwaukee’s five MVP awards are now the fifth-most among all NBA franchises.