Los Angeles (AFP)

How do you say "back-to-back" in Greek?

Failing to yet claim to be NBA champion with Milwaukee, Giannis Antetokounmpo retained his trophy for best player of the season (MVP) on Friday, doubled as best defender, as only Michael Jordan and Hakeem Olajuwon did before.

On an individual level, it is in these glorious steps that Antetokounmpo, who succeeds himself on the MVP list, walks at only 25 years old.

"Seeing my name get involved in the discussion with theirs means so much to me," reacted the star during the announcement made by the league on Friday.

He was placed in first place by 85 of the 101 voters (962 pts), ahead of LeBron James (Lakers), already crowned in 2009, 2010, 2012 and 2013 and who collected the 16 remaining votes (753 pts).

James Harden (Houston), also honored in 2018, is 3rd (367 pts) in the journalists' vote, which placed the Slovenian prodigy Luka Doncic, 21, in 4th place.

Last year, Giannis became the second European player after the German Dirk Nowitzki (Dallas), in 2007, to receive the prestigious Maurice Podoloff trophy.

Among the twelve players who managed a "back-to-back", he is the second non-American to do so after the Canadian Steve Nash in 2005 and 2006.

- Constant progress -

And he's the second Milwaukee player to retain that MVP title after Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1971 and 1972.

But unlike its glorious elder brother, the "Greek Freak" has yet to lead the Bucks to a second title since that won in 1971, or even a third final since that lost in 1974.

Antetokounmpo has progressed further individually and deserves to keep his trophy - 29.6 points at 54.7%, 13.7 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 1 interception, 1 against in 30.9 minutes in 57 games until the interruption of the season on March 11 because of the coronavirus - and he is obviously for many in the best record of the regular season (53-12) achieved by his team.

But despite its status as the No.1 seed in the East, the Wisconsin franchise was eliminated by Miami (4-1) in the conference semi-finals and its star could not really do much. , especially after having made a nasty sprain to the left ankle which deprived him of the fifth and last game, that of elimination.

Last year, the Bucks reached the next round, but fell to the Toronto Raptors, future NBA champions.

As he said right after the elimination, to cut short the rumors, Antetokounmpo reiterated his wish to stay in Milwaukee.

"When the time comes, we'll talk about my contract for a long-term future in Milwaukee," promised NBATV the Greek who, according to the specialized press, asked his leaders to recruit another star to support him in their ultimate common quest.

- "I want to be champion" -

"I want to be champion", hammered Antetokounmpo, him whose story however already looks like a fairy tale.

Born in Greece to a family of Nigerian immigrants, he roamed the streets of Athens as a teenager selling trinkets to help his family survive.

And he was lucky enough to be spotted by NBA scouts while wearing the jersey of a Greek second division club, Filathlitikos.

Since being drafted in 15th position in 2013 by Milwaukee, this extraordinary 2.11m athlete, with hands over 30cm long, has established himself by leaps and bounds - with his gigantic stride, he can go slam dunk from midfield and dribble just once - in the league to become one of the most admired basketball players on the planet.

"It's been a long journey, but people who know my story know it: I don't take anything for granted. I was disappointed that I wasn't able to help my team. I have to improve," said he stressed.

And to conclude: "As long as everyone is fighting for the same thing every day, that is to say to be champion. Why not be it the next 15 years?"

© 2020 AFP