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[Saba Sports News] After the Milwaukee Bucks swept the 2024 NBA Cup, fans couldn’t help but fixate on an unexpected “winner” of the tournament—and it wasn’t Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The Greek Freak, named NBA Cup MVP, led Milwaukee to a dominant 97-81 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder in the championship game at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Antetokounmpo delivered a monstrous performance with 26 points, 19 rebounds, and 10 assists, along with 2 steals and 3 blocks. His efforts secured the Bucks’ first in-season tournament title in emphatic fashion.
However, social media jokingly gave credit to Bucks assistant coach Darvin Ham, who had coached the Los Angeles Lakers to a sweep of last season’s inaugural NBA Cup.
With Ham now holding a combined 14-0 record in the tournament, fans lightheartedly dubbed him the “Phil Jackson” or “Red Auerbach” of the fledgling event.
Despite the jokes, Ham’s connection to the Bucks’ success highlights their turnaround. After starting the season 2-8, Milwaukee has gone 14-11, losing just three times in their last 15 games.
Tuesday’s victory underscored their resurgence, as they dismantled a Thunder squad widely regarded as Western Conference favorites.
The Bucks’ NBA Cup triumph may have sparked some playful banter, but it also marked a significant milestone in their season and reaffirmed their championship aspirations.