Giannis, Budenholzer are finalists for top NBA awards
Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo has spent the season distancing himself from the rest of the Nattional Basketball Association as one of the league's top two-way stars.
The arrival of Milwaukee coach Mike Budenholzer has spurred a major oncourt turnaround, taking the Bucks from mediocrity to the best record in the league and two wins from the NBA Finals.
Both are clear favorites for some of the league's top individual awards, which the league made official on Friday when it announced the finalists for six individual awards that will be announced on June 24 on TNT.
Antetokounmpo is a finalist for MVP, joined by Houston Rockets guard James Harden and Oklahoma City Thunder wing Paul George.
He is also one of three finalists for defensive player of the year, joined in that category by George and Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert.
Budenholzer, along with Michael Malone of the Denver Nuggets and Doc Rivers of the Los Angeles Clippers, is in the running for coach of the year.
This season, Antetokounmpo averaged career-highs with 27.7 points, 12.5 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game. He also averaged 1.5 blocks and 1.3 steals while leading the league's top defense and ranking in the top three in the NBA in defensive rating (second) and defensive
win shares (third).
Well, well, well
Bucks guard Malcolm Brogdon stopped by "Inside the NBA" on TNT following Game 2 on Friday, spending time with the award-winning panel of Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Shaquille O'Neal and Kenny Smith.
Toward the end of the conversation, Brogdon was asked about his Hoops2o initiative aimed at bringing clean water to East Africa and Tanzania. Barkley then asked Brogdon how much a well costs to build, with Brogdon replying that it costs $45,000.
"I'll give you $45,000 right now," Barkley said. "You got $45,000. I want a well."