In Milwaukee Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer‘s intellect, the select for NBA MVP is an effortless alternative: Giannis Antetokounmpo.

When the league instructed teams on Friday that the races for MVP and other typical-time unique awards are above — forward of the NBA restart in Orlando, Florida — the choice arrived as information to Budenholzer.

“I had no strategy that that was the situation, but it helps make sense. I consider it was 64, 65, 66 video games for distinct teams, so that’s definitely a major body of work, and more importantly, absolutely, Giannis, in our minds, has accomplished a lot more than adequate to are worthy of a back again-to-back MVP,” Budenholzer said. “What he does for us on each ends of the courtroom, what he does each evening, the way he sets the bar for us, society-smart, do the job ethic-smart, just as a teammate. He’s an unbelievable teammate, plays unselfishly, does everything. And I assume that is form of what the MVP is, so we certainly experience like he’s extremely deserving, and we are going to be excited to assistance him.”

If Antetokounmpo, 25, wins the award, he would join LeBron James (25 several years previous in 2009-10) and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (24 yrs outdated in 1971-72) as the only gamers to gain a number of NBA MVPs at age 25 or more youthful, for every ESPN Stats & Info study. The Greek-born Antetokounmpo would be a part of Tim Duncan (two) and Steve Nash (two) as the third participant born outdoors the U.S. to get a number of MVPs.

Antetokounmpo is also seeking to be a part of Michael Jordan and Hakeem Olajuwon as the only players to gain Defensive Participant of the Year and MVP in the exact same period.

At the time of the shutdown because of the coronavirus pandemic, Caesars Sportsbook had Antetokounmpo’s odds as -800 to win MVP, forward of James (+500).

On Thursday, Antetokounmpo introduced the formal release of his 2nd signature sneaker, the Nike Zoom Freak 2, with special entry to Nike members by means of Zoom. He named Kevin Durant, Magic Johnson, Scottie Pippen and Kevin Garnett as his most loved gamers escalating up.

“I want to be one particular of the finest players to at any time engage in the match,” Antetokounmpo instructed reporters through media availability on July 1. “I did the best career I could do attempting to continue to be all set and hoping to have my group all set for this journey that we’re about to go on to depart and enjoy online games. But as I reported, whoever would like it far more, whoever is mentally geared up for all this, what is going on in Orlando, that is the team that’s gonna come out on best.”