The Milwaukee Bucks have been one of the most inconsistent teams in the NBA this year. Playing slightly over a .500 clip since winning the NBA Cup, with title aspirations on their mind this isn’t where they wanted to be. Tuesday night’s game at home against the surging Kings was going to be difficult, as the Bucks are still searching for answers, but thanks to Giannis Antetokounmpo’s MVP play the Bucks went ahead and won 130-115.

Giannis had a huge part in this game. The Kings had no answer for Giannis’s interior scoring, sometimes scoring at will from all over the court. Giannis would finish with 33 points, 11 rebounds, and 13 assists. With this triple-double etched his way into an exclusive club that only 12 players in NBA history are a part of.

According to the NBA on X (formally Twitter), Giannis became just the 12th player in NBA history to record 50 or more triple-doubles in their career. Below is a glimpse of Giannis’s dominance over the Kings.

Among active players, Antetokounmpo ranks seventh in total career triple-doubles with his 50th coming against the Kings Tuesday night. He is behind Russell Westbrook (202), Nikola Jokic (145), Lebron James (120), Luka Doncic (80), James Harden (78), and Domantas Sabonis. Giannis won’t catch these players anytime soon, but his dominance on the floor should continue for many years to come and so should the triple-doubles.

Bucks’ Record Clouds Giannis’ MVP Bid

There’s no doubt the two-time MVP is playing at an MVP level. After Tuesday’s game, he now averages 31.5 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 6.2 assists per game this season. These numbers would put him in contention for the NBA MVP award.

The Bucks haven’t played good enough basketball to warrant such consideration. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander or Nikola Jokic should be one and two because of their team’s record and better play this year. The Bucks will have to find consistency within the organization or look for a trade when the deadline comes in February.

The Elevation of Giannis: All-Time Great Debate Heats Up

Giannis is considered one of the best power forwards of all time if not one of the best players of all time. He was an NBA champion in 2021 and an NBA Cup champion in 2024. Here are some of his awards and recognitions so far in his 11-year career.

MVP awards

• NBA Most Valuable Player in 2019 and 2020
• NBA Finals MVP in 2021
• NBA All-Star Game MVP in 2021
• NBA AS MVP in 2020-21

Defensive Player of the Year

• NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 2020
• 2019-20 Defensive Player of the Year

All-Star awards

• NBA All-Star in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024

Other awards

• Most Improved Player in 2017
• All-Defensive 1st Team in 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022
• All-Defensive 2nd Team in 2017
• All-NBA 1st Team in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
• All-NBA 2nd Team in 2017, and 2018
• Antetokounmpo was the first unanimous MVP in NBA history
• Selected to the NBA 75th Aniversary Team
• Antetokounmpo is one of three players to win both the NBA MVP and Defensive Player of the Year awards in the same season.

Follow me on X @RuZe_Twins. Follow us @WiSportsHeroics for more great up-to-date sports content. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in Wisconsin sports, click here!

Additionally, we provide the latest news coverage on the NBA in which you can follow  Hardwood Heroics.