50-Piece Finale

Giannis Antetokounmpo Scores 50 Points in Finals-Clinching Game 6, Breaks Bucks’ 50-Year Championship Drought

The Milwaukee Bucks are NBA champions! After falling down 2-0 to the Phoenix Suns in the NBA Finals, the Bucks won four straight games culminating in a Game 6 celebration (105-98) that halts a 50-year championship drought (1971). The reigning two-time MVP, Giannis Antetokounmpo, reached a new level of stardom by adding two achievements to his resume on Tuesday night — a 50-point Finals performance and his first NBA title. With 17,000 fans inside Fiserv Forum and 65,000 outside in the Deer District starving for a title, Milwaukee is once again a city of champions.

How Game 6 Was Won

The Bucks stepped on the Suns early in Game 6, taking a 13-point lead by the end of the first quarter. Phoenix rallied fast, outscoring Milwaukee by 18 in Q2 to take a five-point halftime lead. The Bucks regained the advantage late in the third and never surrendered, staving off countless, last-ditch efforts to force a Game 7 by Chris Paul (26 pts) and Devin Booker (19 pts). A dagger from Khris Middleton pushed the lead back to six (102-96) with just 57 seconds left before a free-throw-filled finish, including one last shot from Giannis for the 50-piece.

Watch Highlights: Giannis Scores 50 in Title-Clinching Win

NBA Finals Facts & Storylines

Milwaukee’s 50-Year Wait

The Bucks raised their first Larry O’Brien trophy since 1971 when they beat the Washington Bullets in four games with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Oscar Robertson. Tuesday night’s win ended the fourth-longest active title drought in the NBA. Only the Kings (71 years), Hawks (63 years) and Suns (53 years) have waited longer.

2021 NBA Finals MVP: Giannis Antetokounmpo

The Greek Freak became the seventh player in NBA history with a 50-point game in the NBA Finals, and just the second ever to do it in a series-clincher. Giannis had three 40-plus performances in the Finals, including 42 points in Game 2 and 41 points in Game 3 before Tuesday’s historic 50-ball. He signed a five-year, $228 million contract extension with the Bucks just a few days before the season began. Now, the two-time MVP is an NBA champion and Finals MVP.

Giannis in Game 6

50 Points (16-25, FGs | 17-19, FTs), 14 Rebounds, 5 Blocks

Giannis’ Postgame Press Conference

“Eight years ago, before I came into the league, I didn’t know where my next meal would come from. My mom was selling stuff in the street. And now I’m here sitting on the top of the top. I’m extremely blessed… If I never have the chance to sit at this table ever again, I’m fine with it. But I hope this can give everybody around the world hope, and allow them to believe in their dreams.” — Giannis Antetokounmpo

Fun Fact: All three Antetokounmpo brothers won rings in the last 10 months — Kostas (Lakers), Thanasis (Bucks) and Giannis (Bucks).

Antetokounmpo’s Elite Company

Giannis is just the ninth player in NBA history to win multiple MVPs and a Finals MVP. That list includes: Michael Jordan, Wilt Chamberlain, Magic Johnson, LeBron James, Larry Bird, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Moses Malone and Tim Duncan. And he’s only 26 years old.

Even Rarer Air

Want one better? Giannis is just the second player in NBA history to win MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, All-Star Game MVP and Finals MVP. The other is Michael Jordan. Again, he’s 26 years old.

That’ll do it for the 2020-21 NBA season. Stay tuned for the NBA Draft (July 29) and Free Agency (Aug. 2) as well as Team USA basketball coverage in the Olympics.

Additional Storylines

Yahoo! Sports: Cheer the Deer: Giannis’ Signature Performance Secures Title

B/R: NBA Stars Praise Giannis’ Greatness on Social Media

SI: Bucks’ Championship Marks Satisfying End to Challenging NBA Season

The Ringer: The Bucks Have Their Savior, And Their First NBA Championship in 50 Years

Sporting News: Twitter Wonders if History Between Chris Paul and Official Scott Foster Affected NBA Finals Outcome