“It’s going to be the toughest championship”- Giannis Antetokounmpo about an asterisk on the NBA title

Giannis said, “It’s going to be the toughest championship you could ever win.” When asked about the need for an asterisk on the NBA title for this season.

Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks spoke to members of the media on a conference call on Wednesday. During the call, he addressed the idea of playing for a title under the unprecedented circumstances in Orlando.

The Greek Freak talked about the weather should there be an asterisk on the NBA title for this season. 

Need for an asterisk on the championship?

Houston Rockets guard Austin Rivers told Bleacher Report’s Taylor Rooks he thought the 2020 champion should receive an asterisk.

Celtics head coach Brad Stevens echoed those thoughts, per the Boston Globe‘s Nicole Yang: “The idea of an asterisk next to this championship [Rivers] said it exactly right. This is going to be a super unique situation, and whoever wins it is going to really earn it.”

I talked to Austin Rivers about whether or not this NBA Champion will have an asterisk next to their name. This was his response: pic.twitter.com/Pn1EuVLP7p

— Taylor Rooks (@TaylorRooks) July 1, 2020

The current situation under which the NBA is going to restart in the ‘Bubble’ isn’t a favorable one. With the coronavirus pandemic and the Black Lives Matter campaign, a lot of people think that it is unfair for NBA teams and players to resume the season. Due to which many feel the need for an asterisk on the NBA Championship this season. 

Giannis talking about should there be an asterisk on 2020 championship?

Asked about whether the eventual champion will have an asterisk. The reigning MVP said “I hear a lot of people saying it could have a star next to it. It’s going to be the toughest championship you could ever win.”

Giannis Antetokounmpo on a conference call this morning: The NBA title in Orlando “is going to be the toughest championship you could ever win”

— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 1, 2020

One could argue a player in Antetokounmpo’s position has a vested interest in playing up the implications of winning the 2020 Finals.

Were the Bucks to lift the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy, Antetokounmpo wouldn’t want to see people downplay or minimize the work they put in to make it happen.

Also Read: How will Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Bucks lineup for NBA Bubble restart

Antetokounmpo is favored to win a second straight MVP award. And is in the midst of another historic individual season with averages of 29.6 points, 13.7 rebounds, and 5.8 assists in just 30.9 minutes per game. His numbers would be even more staggering if not for a relative lack of major minutes. On a per-36 minutes basis, only two players in NBA history. Wilt Chamberlain and James Harden have ever scored more over the course of a single season.

Oddsmakers currently have the Bucks at 11-4 to win the title, second behind only the Los Angeles Lakers. The Bucks resume their season on August 1 against the Boston Celtics.