Greek Freak may have ended Thunder star’s MVP campaign

Meanwhile, SGA struggled against the Bucks defense, scoring 12 points on 5-for-12 shooting and turning the ball over four times. He did grab three steals, but he and his teammates had trouble with the Bucks' size and physicality, getting outrebounded 57-37.

Gilgeous-Alexander has had a breakout season for the Thunder, who were leading the Western Conference for much of the season. But the matchup with the Bucks might remind voters that Antetokounmpo is also having a tremendous year for a different second-place team.

Antetokounmpo is averaging 30.7 points on 61.6 percent shooting, compared to SGA's 30.5 points on 54.1 percent shooting. Antetokounmpo has more rebounds (11.3-5.6), more assists (6.4-6.3) and slightly more blocks per game (1.0-0.9). 

Gilgeous-Alexander has the edge in three-point shooting, steals and turnovers. But Anteotkounmpo seems to have an extra level he reaches when facing his MVP rivals.

Antetokounmpo has gone 4-1 against Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic and Gilgeous-Alexander this year, and he'll face the Thunder star again in Milwaukee's second-to-last game on April 12 — though both teams may not have anything to play for. The Greek Freak has outscored his MVP rival in each of those games, averaging over 36 points and 14 rebounds while shooting 69 percent from the floor.

It could be that Antetokounmpo is a victim of voter fatigue, having already won consecutive MVP awards in 2018-19 and 2019-20. Since then, he has a fourth-place finish and two third-place finishes, though he also has a Finals MVP from 2021. Gilgeous-Alexander presents a fresher narrative, leading the upstart Thunder to their best season since Kevin Durant was in OKC.

But the MVP shouldn't be about the best storyline. It should be about the best player. Sunday in Milwaukee, that player was clearly Antetokounmpo.