The 2019 NBA awards took place Monday, and some of the biggest names in sports were honored.
Current NBA players, basketball legends and others received recognition for their efforts on and off the court.
Here are three takeaways from the 2019 NBA Awards:
There were no real surprises
Monday's events went like most people expected them to.
The players that were supposed to win did just that, so there weren't any shocking reactions.
The best the NBA had to offer were simply dominant in their respective categories.
TNT tried to mix things up
Shaquille O'Neal hosted the NBA awards and TNT made it a point to use his larger-than-life personality to amp up the crowd.
The 7-1 icon, actor and analyst danced, sang and was even replaced by an imposter for a few minutes. It was interesting to say the least.
Kenny and Chuck check in with "new Shaq" at the #NBAAwards. 😂 pic.twitter.com/KuicPjAsZu
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) June 25, 2019
The coverage probably lasted a little bit too long, but at least there was an effort to make it entertaining.
Giannis Antetokounmpo was emotional for first MVP
Antetokounmpo clearly appreciated winning such a prestigious award. He broke into tears while delivering his acceptance speech.
The Bucks star entered the league as a raw, lanky teen in 2013 as the 15th overall pick. In just six seasons, he developed his skills and became the MVP.
Giannis got emotional as he paid tribute to his family while accepting the #KiaMVP trophy. 🙏#NBAAwards pic.twitter.com/T8p5XH73cZ
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) June 25, 2019
Antetokounmpo is now part of an elite group.