What a way to win your first NBA championship!
Giannis Antetokoumpo etched his name into the record books with a truly dominant performance, recording 50 points, 14 rebounds and five blocks in a 105-98 win over the Phoenix Suns.
He scored 50 of the Bucks 105 points on his way to being named Finals MVP, bringing Milwaukee their first NBA championship in 50 years.
FINALS: Giannis crowned Finals MVP | Giannis assumes legendary status | How the Bucks sealed Game 6 on their home floor | Players react on Twitter to Giannis' Game 6
Let's take a deeper dive into the numbers behind Giannis' historic night.
Firstly, this shot chart is ridiculous:
50: Welcome to the club
Giannis becomes just the seventh player in NBA history to have 50 points in the Finals, joining Bob Pettit Elgin Baylor, Rick Barry, Jerry West, Michael Jordan, and LeBron James
Not only that, he became the first player in NBA history with 50 points, 10 rebounds, and five blocks in a Finals game.
Giannis feeling emotional and appreciative of those who helped him along his journey to becoming an NBA Champion. pic.twitter.com/frZ32OJr7A
— NBA (@NBA) July 21, 2021
33: Second half points
Antetokounmpo scored 33 of his 50 points in the second half, including 20 points in the third quarter alone.
Per Elias Sports, Antetokoumpo is just the second player in the past 50 years to score 33 in a Finals half, joining Michael Jordan.
Meanwhile, he is the first player in NBA history to record multiple 30-point halves in a single NBA Finals series.
According to @EliasSports Giannis is the first player to record multiple 30-point halves in a single NBA Finals over the last 40 years pic.twitter.com/HESx4MdoKR
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) July 21, 2021
17: Free throw magic
Perhaps the most insane number of the night came at the free-throw line.
Through the first five games of the series, Antetokounmpo was shooting just 59 percent at the free throw line, but he flipped the script in Game 6.
Relentlessly attacking the basket all night, he didn't shy away from getting fouled, going 17-of-19 at the charity stripe — the highest mark of his playoff career (min 15 FTA) and the third highest overall of his career.
Giannis shot 17-19 on free throws tonight.
— StatMuse (@statmuse) July 21, 2021
The highest mark of his playoff career (min 15 FTA) and the 3rd highest overall of his career.
Clutch. pic.twitter.com/PUaIjwUbkq
The Suns as a team shot 16-of-19 in Game 6.
1: A series for the ages
Antetokounmpo was unbelievable throughout the Finals, with series averages of 35.2 points, 13.2 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game.
In a series where he produced dominance in the paint we haven't seen since Shaquille O'Neal, Antetokounmpo is the first player EVER to average 30/10/5 on 60 percent shooting in a Finals series.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is the 1st player in NBA Finals history to average 30+ points, 10+ rebounds and 5+ assists on at least 60% shooting.
— NBA.com/Stats (@nbastats) July 21, 2021
35.2 PPG
13.2 RPG
5.0 APG
61.8 FG% pic.twitter.com/PTBDmDl3Es
2: Giannis joins MJ
Whenever you put yourself in the same standing as Michael Jordan, you're doing something right.
After being named Finals MVP, Antetokounmpo joins Michael Jordan as the ONLY players in NBA history to win multiple MVPs, Defensive Player of the Year DPOY and Finals MVP.
Antetokounmpo's 50 points are the most in a Finals closeout game since the NBA/ABA merger, bettering Michael Jordan's 45 points in the Chicago Bulls' Game 6 win over the Utah Jazz in 1998.
Most points in a potential title-clinching game:
— Basketball Reference (@bball_ref) July 21, 2021
1. Bob Pettit, 50 (1958)
t2. Michael Jordan, 45 (1998)
t2. Giannis Antetokounmpo, 45 (2021)
Adding in his Most Improved Player of the Year award (2017), Antetokounmpo is the first player in NBA history to win: MIP, MVP, DPOY and FMVP.
The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NBA or its clubs.
