Giannis Antetokounmpo, known as “The Greek Freak,” exemplifies the journey from poverty to success. Born and raised in Athens, Greece, he and his family faced numerous challenges and hardships.

From living as an undocumented child on the streets of Greece to achieving remarkable success in the NBA, Giannis’s story is an inspiring testament to overcoming adversity.

Born in Athens on December 6, 1994, Giannis made a pivotal decision to declare for the 2013 NBA draft. On July 30, 2013, he signed a rookie contract with the Milwaukee Bucks, where he has played throughout his entire professional career, leading the team to its first NBA championship since 1971 in 2021.

His remarkable journey extends beyond his athletic achievements, showcasing his resilience in rising above racism as an African immigrant in Greece, bringing his family to America in 2014, and coping with the sudden loss of his father in 2017.

Giannis Antetokounmpo faced daily struggles during his childhood and lacked a clear sense of identity.

His parents, Charles and Veronica Antetokounmpo, emigrated from Nigeria to Greece, but their immigrant status made it challenging for them to secure stable employment, trapping them in a cycle of poverty.

Ultimately, their situation led to severe financial difficulties, with the primary goal of securing money and food for the family.

In an interview with ESPN, Giannis reflected on his early experiences: “I’ve been selling things for as long as I can remember, since I was six or seven years old.

“I was always out trying to help my parents by selling watches, glasses, CDs, DVDs, and anything I could find. I did this until I turned 17 because I had no other choice. I was the best seller during that time.

“My secret was never giving up. I would keep asking people until they bought something. Being young and charming helped too.”

Growing up in extreme poverty, Antetokounmpo felt he had nothing to lose, so he did everything possible to earn money for his family.

He shared a bed with his brothers, Thanasis, Alex, and Kostas, as they couldn’t afford a bigger home with more rooms.

Throughout their time there, they often feared eviction due to not having enough money for rent.

Unknown to many, Giannis initially dreamed of being a football player like his father.

When his coach Vasilis Xenakis encouraged him to join the basketball team, Giannis was uninterested, having no experience in the sport. The same was true for his siblings.

To motivate him, the coach offered the possibility of earning money: “I told him that if he gave basketball a try, he could potentially make some money to buy food,” Xenakis recalled.

He also promised to help Giannis find a football team if basketball didn’t work out. Eventually, that offer became unnecessary as they both recognized Giannis’s potential on the basketball court.

When the Antetokounmpo brothers started playing basketball, they often had to share a single pair of shoes for games.

At checkout, Giannis would pass his shoes to Thanasis and vice versa.

Giannis later told ESPN: “Those moments were beautiful. Overcoming struggles and seeing my family thriving now is unbelievable. I cherish those memories and appreciate having gone through those times.

“While we may not have had much money, we were happy. When challenges arose, we would gather in the same room, laugh, and have fun despite our difficulties. That definitely made us stronger.”

Today, Antetokounmpo is recognized as one of the greatest basketball players of all time.

Drafted into the NBA in 2013, the ‘Greek Freak’ has achieved significant success with the Milwaukee Bucks, winning an NBA title in 2021 and earning accolades like two league MVP awards and a finals MVP award.

Given its origins, the Antetokounmpo story is frequently celebrated as a source of inspiration.

Despite living in challenging economic conditions and sometimes struggling for food and shelter, Giannis never lost sight of his goals. He aimed to use basketball as a means to overcome difficulties and build a better life for himself and his family.

Giannis Antetokounmpo’s rise to success is a true testament to patience, passion, and determination. He has shown that there are no limits for those who believe in themselves and are willing to work hard to achieve their dreams.

Giannis Antetokounmpo, his fiancée Mariah Riddlesprigger, and their sons Liam and Maverick distributed essential items to local families in need on Milwaukee’s southwest side, with one child on Giannis’s shoulders and the other by his side.

Alongside numerous volunteers, the Antetokounmpo family handed out diapers and food at the Milwaukee Diaper Mission distribution event.

They were part of a large group of volunteers providing diapers, wipes, food, and other necessities at a drive-up event organized by Hayat Pharmacy, located at 807 W. Layton Ave.

“We wanted to organize this event to support families with the essentials they need just before the holidays and give back to the community,” said Meagan Johnson, co-founder of the Diaper Mission.

This event marked the conclusion of the BIG Give Back, an annual diaper and fund drive by the Charles Antetokounmpo Family Foundation benefiting the Milwaukee Diaper Mission.

“I feel fortunate to be able to provide my children with meals, diapers, and everything they need,” Riddlesprigger, who serves on the board of MDM, told the Journal Sentinel. “I just want to bless others and help them do the same. It’s important to assist others in caring for their families and alleviating some of their worries.”

The Milwaukee Diaper Mission initiative is supported by Giannis Antetokounmpo and his family.

Businesses like Culver’s and organizations such as Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin were involved in the event on Sunday.

They aimed to supply food and pain relief for 300 homes, along with providing 30,000 diapers.

Giannis Antetokounmpo, also known as “The Greek Freak”, is an admirable example of rising from a poor background. Born and raised in Athens, Greece, Giannis and his family went through many hardships and faced deprivation.

From growing up undocumented and impoverished on the streets of Greece to the dizzying heights of the NBA racking up eye-watering stats, the Antetokounmpo story has become an inspirational tale in how to defy the odds.

Giannis, born in Athens, on Dec. 6, 1994, would make a similar choice when he officially made himself eligible for the 2013 NBA draft. On July 30, 2013, he signed his rookie contract with the Milwaukee Bucks, where he’s played for throughout his entire professional career, leading the team to their first NBA championship since 1971 in 2021.

The Marvelous Journey goes beyond the power forward’s professional highlight reel, though, painting a picture of an athlete with unfathomable resilience, from rising above racism growing up as an African immigrant in Greece to bringing his family to America in 2014, and coping with the unexpected death of his father three years later in 2017.

Giannis Antetokounmpo, a basketball player, struggled daily to survive as a child and never had a distinct identity.

Charles and Veronica Antetokounmpo, his parents, left Nigeria to settle in Greece. Their status as immigrants made it difficult for them to find steady jobs, and without a steady job, they could not be named Greek citizens, binding them to a vicious circle.

In the end, their circumstances drove them into destitution. Procuring money and food for the family became their collective objective.

In an interview with ESPN, Giannis Antetokounmpo reflected on his early life, “I used to sell things since I can remember myself, since I was six or seven years old.

“I was always out of home trying as much as I could to help my mom and dad by selling watches, glasses, CDs, DVDs, and everything I could find. I was doing that until I turned 17 because I had to. I had no other choice. When I was selling all those things, I was the best seller.

“My secret was that I would never give up. I would continue asking people until I could get them to buy something. It also helped that I was young and sweet.”

Given Antetokounmpo lived in extreme poverty, he grew up thinking he had nothing to lose so he did everything he could to get money for his family.

He slept in the same bed as his brothers, Thanasis, Alex, and Kostas, as the family could not afford a bigger house with more rooms.

Through the years they lived there, there was always a fear that they would be kicked out of the house as they sometimes did not have enough money to pay the rent.

Unknown to most, Antetokounmpo wanted to be a football player like his dad.

So, when his coach Vasilis Xenakis tried to put him on the basketball team, Antetokounmpo had no interest in playing with them. He had no experience, and it wasn’t his dream sport. The same also happened with his siblings.

In order to entice him in, the Greek’s coach offered him with the possibility of money: “I told him that if he tried his luck with basketball, he could maybe make some money to buy food,” Xenakis said.

The coach also promised him that if basketball did not work, he would try to find a football team for young Giannis to join. Eventually the offered proved unnecessary; they both soon understood that Antetokounmpo could shine on the court.

When the Antetokounmpo brothers started playing basketball, there were matches that they could not play in together as they had to share the same pair of shoes.

When Giannis was checking out, he would give his shoes to his brother Thanasis to check in, and vice versa.

Giannis later shared to ESPN: “Those moments back then, they were beautiful, man. Going through the struggle and making it out of it and seeing your family doing good now it’s unbelievable. I remember those moments, and I’m happy I went through those times.

“We might not have had a lot of money, but at least we were happy. When we had problems, we would gather in the same room and have fun laughing, despite the difficulties we were going through. That for sure made us stronger.

Now Antetokounmpo is one of the greatest basketball players ever.

Drafted to the NBA in 2013, the man known as the ‘Greek Freak’ has gone on to become an NBA title-winning champion with the Milwaukee Bucks (2021) as well as accruing a list of accolades that include being a two-time league MVP and a finals MVP.

Given its origins the Antetokounmpo story is often cited as a source of inspiration.

Antetokounmpo’s family lived in difficult economic conditions and sometimes struggled to have enough food and shelter. However, Giannis did not give up and always aimed towards his goal. He sought to use basketball as a means to overcome difficulties and create a better life for himself and his family.

The success and rise of Giannis Antetokounmpo are a clear testament to patience, passion, and determination. He has proven that there are no limits to those who believe in themselves and are willing to work hard to achieve their dreams.

“Y’all Hate Women”: Millie Bobby Brown Sparked Fiery Reactions After Responding To Haters

Millie Bobby Brown, best known for her role as Eleven in Stranger Things, reminded her followers on social media that “women grow” while expressing no apologies for her appearance. The actress responded to criticism after sharing a mirror selfie, with some commenters accusing her of looking older than her age and speculating about possible plastic surgery.

Taking to her Instagram page on Wednesday (January 1), Millie marked the New Year by sharing a post on her story, seemingly calling out backlash she had recently experienced.

In the story, which has since been deleted, the 20-year-old wrote: “Women grow!! Not sorry about it :)”

Millie’s post drew divided reactions, as an X (formerly known as Twitter) user commented: “People literally age… and moreover she aged like fine wine idk what keep complaining about.”

Millie Bobby Brown reminded her followers on social media that “women grow” 

Image credits: milliebobbybrown

A person wrote: “She had a fixation to look like a wealthy 40-year-old divorcee since she was like 16.”

Someone else penned: “Women do grow but sis look 20+ years her actual age.”

“As long as she still plays Eleven in Stranger Things then we’re good,” a netizen added.

Image credits: milliebobbybrown

A commentator shared: “I find it very creepy and annoying asl that men want her to be stuck at 16.”

An observer noted: “She pretty much immediately started looking like a 40-year-old Real Housewife.”

A separate individual chimed in: “Not surprised she’s annoyed. She’s not a little girl anymore and people should finally stop treating her this way.”

She expressed no apologies for her appearance

Image credits: milliebobbybrown

The starlet’s blunt statement follows negative feedback she received after posting a selfie that prompted speculations of plastic surgery.

Earlier this month, the Emmy Awards-nominated talent shared a mirror selfie on Instagram, wearing a white and burgundy dress.

A Louis Vuitton Speedy bag was hanging on her arm with its colorful print from the Murakami collection clearly visible, Bored Panda previously reported.

Image credits: milliebobbybrown

Moreover, Millie flashed a pout and flaunted a big diamond ring to fans. “Me and my mini,” she wrote in the caption. “@louisvuitton #lvxmurakami.”

The selfie ignited a whirlwind of both praise and criticism, with fans calling her “pretty,” “gorgeous” and “too cute.”

“YOU ARE INSANELY BEAUTIFUL MILLS,” read one compliment while another said, “you are so beautiful.”

“Too wonderful, wow,” said another.

The actress responded to criticism after sharing a mirror selfie

Others questioned her appearance and asked, “U look 35 what happened??”

This wasn’t the first time Millie has been confronted with age-shaming comments. Back in October, her wedding photos sparked both admiration and concern.

While many viewers swooned over the dreamy images of Millie and her husband Jake Bongiovi, others questioned the couple’s age, with the actress and the model being 20 and 22 years old respectively, Bored Panda previously reported.

Image credits: milliebobbybrown

“She’s just a kid! What’s the rush? This feels like a disaster waiting to happen,” a person wrote on social media, while others shared their predictions on how long the marriage will last.

The pictures showed Millie donning a stunning white corset gown with a long train veil. Jake complemented her with an equally white tuxedo and a black bowtie for a classic look.

“I give it two years, tops,” one fan said. “This won’t last long.”

Some commenters accused her of looking older than her age and speculating about possible plastic surgery

Image credits: milliebobbybrown

Millie began a relationship with Jake in 2021. Born Jacob, the New Jersey native is a model and actor. However, he is best known for being the son of musician Jon Bon Jovi.

In April 2023, the Enola Holmes star announced their engagement, and on May 27, People magazine reported that the couple had married in a private ceremony the previous weekend.

Millie has previously opened up about the beginning of her relationship with Jake. She told Wired in 2022: “We met on Instagram, and we were friends for a bit, and then, what can I say?”

Image credits: milliebobbybrown

She further opened up about the moment she knew Jake was “the one” for her, telling The Sunday Times in 2023: “After we met, we knew we never wanted to leave each other’s side.

“You can’t pinpoint why [someone is ‘the one’], it’s just the feeling of knowing that that’s the person you want to spend the rest of your time with.”

She continued: “I think so much of life is overthinking. The one thing that made clear sense to me was him. So I didn’t really have to do much thinking.”

“She aged like fine wine,” a reader commented

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Millie Bobby Brown Celebrates 2024 as ‘the Year of Mrs. Bongiovi,’ Shares Unseen Wedding Footage with Jake Bongiovi

The ‘Stranger Things’ star’s New Year’s Eve post included clips from her wedding, birthday party and more

Millie Bobby Brown/Instagram (2)

Millie Bobby Brown and Jake Bongiovi; Millie Bobby Brown

Millie Bobby Brown is fondly looking back on 2024 as the year she got married.

The Stranger Things star, 20, celebrated New Year’s Eve by posting an Instagram Reel captioned “the year of mrs bongiovi 🤍.” The video compilation, set to the tune of ABBA’s “Happy New Year,” features never-before-seen wedding footage and sweet moments between Brown and her husband, Jake Bongiovi.

In May, PEOPLE confirmed that the actress secretly got married to Bongiovi, 22, who is the son of Jon Bon Jovi, in a “very low-key, romantic affair with their closest family.” Now, Brown is giving her followers a peek inside her newlywed bliss.

In the first clip, the couple — who first sparked romance rumors in June 2021 — can be seen smiling and laughing as they held hands underneath a white floral arch at their second wedding celebration at Villa Cetinale in Italy. Brown wore a custom lace Galia Lahav gown, while Bongiovi sported an ivory suit from Banana Republic.

The actress actually wore four stunning dresses for her Italian wedding. In another clip, she appears to be at a dress fitting for her corset-style bridal gown. This dress, which she wore ahead of the reception, features a ribbon accent, a high neckline, cap sleeves and a tiered lace skirt.

While lying on her back on the floor, she wore another sparkling bridal outfit in a clip of herself laughing and shimmying. She danced again in two other clips, this time with Bongiovi joining her.

Millie Bobby Brown/Instagram

Millie Bobby Brown

In other clips, the pair released two white doves, watched fireworks together, enjoyed a piggyback ride and kissed at a romantic nighttime dinner.

Some of Brown’s pets, family and friends, such as her The Electric State costar Chris Pratt, also made it into her 2024 recap post. She also celebrated herself by including a clip of herself smashing her 20th birthday cake.

In late November, a source close to Brown and Bongiovi told PEOPLE that the couple had been “enjoying a magical year” as husband and wife and couldn’t wait to mark their first holiday season as newlyweds.

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“Millie is very happy with Jake. She loves celebrating Thanksgiving with Jake and his family,” the insider said. “She raves about his mom’s cooking. Their family gatherings are always very special and welcoming.”

“She always starts decorating early. She’s embracing it all even more now as [a] married [woman],” added the source, noting that Christmas is Brown’s “absolute favorite holiday.”

Michael Douglas’ ex-wife Diandra received $45 million from the divorce – this is how she lives today

Michael Douglas is now happily married to actress Catherine Zeta-Jones but before this marriage, he was married to Diandra Luker. He was with Luker for almost two decades before they called it quits.

His divorce cost him quite a lot of money. Keep reading to know more.

Michael Douglas and his ex-wife Diandra Luker were together for 18 years before they decided to separate. Their divorce became Hollywood’s most expensive as Michael was ordered to pay his ex-wife $45 million.

Hollywood star Michael Douglas, 79, is known for his roles in iconic films such as “Fatal Attraction” and “Wall Street.” He has cemented his place as one of Hollywood’s most celebrated actors.

He has also been awarded two Oscars, one for “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” and the other for his role in “Wall Street.”
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Today, he is married to another fellow Oscar-winning actor – Catherine Zeta-Jones, 59. He and Zeta-Jones have two children, Dylan Douglas, 23, and Carys Zeta Douglas, 21.

But his marriage to Catherine is not Douglas’s first. He was previously married – a union that cost him dearly.

Michael Douglas had recently achieved great success with the film “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” when he and Diandra Luker, 68, said ‘I do’ to each other in 1977. And a year later, they welcomed their son Cameron Douglas.

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Michael reportedly had to pay his ex-wife a whole 45 million dollars, when they divorced years later in the year 2000.

In addition to that, she also got their shared residence in Santa Barbara, California. However, Diandra was not finished there. In 2011, she was back in court to demand more money.

This time, Diandra claimed that she had stood by her husband’s side when he made the film Wall Street and, therefore, demanded that she should get half of the income that he would earn from the sequel to the first film. But her legal process would have significant consequences as Michael Douglas had been diagnosed with cancer just two months earlier. Diandra was then accused of demanding money from a sick man.
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After all the hate she had to endure, she finally decided to speak out about the situation.

“Michael didn’t know he was ill, I didn’t know he was ill, and the gods didn’t know he was ill,” she said. She went on, “I am not into going after sick people for things that don’t belong to me.”

Diandra lost the case and thus received no new money from her ex-husband.

Diandra does not seem to have any financial worries, having lived a life of luxury in Mallorca until 2019.

“S’Estaca,” the villa she previously shared with her ex-husband Michael Douglas, is located in a beautiful area overlooking the cliffs of Sa Foradada and the sea. The house has 10 bedrooms, a loft, two cottages, terraces, a pool, a wine cellar, and private access to the sea on a large plot of 100 hectares, according to reports.

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In 2019, Douglas bought out Diandra’s share of the villa, and since then, she seems to have moved to Ibiza, where she now spends much time and shares many pictures from the place on her social media.

With her in Ibiza are the twins Hudson and Hawk, 20 years old, whom she had via a surrogate with ex Zach Hampton Bacon III, as well as daughter Imara de Morrell Douglas, born in 2005, whom Diandra adopted from Russia.

According to the New York Post, Diandra also sold an apartment in New York for an astonishing 17 million dollars in 2022.

Taylor Swift Fans Are Getting Heavy Blame Over The NFL’s Latest Travis Kelce Announcement

Travis Kelce (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce was selected as the team’s nominee for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award.

The Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award is the league’s most prestigious honor. It recognizes players who excel on the field and demonstrate a steadfast commitment to creating a positive impact off the field.

On Sunday, the NFL posted the fan vote and the leaderboard of the players leading so far for the award.

As many would expect, Travis Kelce was atop the leaderboard, with Mike Evans, Dion Dawkins, Brandon Graham, and Bobby Wagner following behind him.

Many fans took to the comment section and blamed Taylor Swift fans for voting so much just to get Travis Kelce this award just because of who he is dating.

 

“Realistically, does anyone stand a chance against the Swifties?” one fan said.

“why is Travis before Mike Evans?” another fan asked.

“Why they let Swifters vote? Its not “Era’s tour man of the Year” or “Taylor Swift Man of the Year” another fan asked.

Another irate fan said: “As if his girlfriends influnce has nothing to do with it yall funny with these fake accomplishments.”

“Kelce and Swift. Worse 2 words in the history of language. 🤮” one final fan said.

Travis Kelce Will Not Play In Week 18

The Kansas City Chiefs have performed exceptionally well this year, leading to them securing home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

Fans might need to adjust their expectations as head coach Andy Reid has made it clear that Travis Kelce and other key players will be sitting out for their final regular season game.

Three-Time NBA All-Star Slams Haters For Calling Jayson Tatum The “Softest” Celtics Superstar Ever

Jayson Tatum (Image Credit: Getty Images)
The Boston Celtics won the NBA Championship during the 2023-24 season. As the 2024-25 season progresses, they are aiming to clinch another championship title. Their star player, Jayson Tatum, is putting forth exceptional efforts, which have helped the team secure the second spot in the Eastern Conference standings.

Despite his impressive efforts, some critics still label Tatum as the softest player in Boston Celtics history. In a recent episode of the Gil’s Arena show, Brandon Jennings echoed this sentiment. He asked the host, Gilbert Arenas, “Is Jayson Tatum the softest Boston Celtics superstar ever?”

Arenas responded, “Whoever saying he’s soft… that’s a soft ass 28ppg he’s averaging. Go on out there and get your head bust.”

BJ: "Is [Jayson Tatum] the softest Boston Celtics superstar ever?"

Gil: "Whoever saying he's soft… that's a soft ass 28ppg he's averaging. Go on out there and get your head bust!"

Brandon Jennings gets the Arena to crash out over his Jayson Tatum take 🤬 pic.twitter.com/bwuEleCRB4

— Gil’s Arena (@GilsArenaShow) January 5, 2025

Arenas expressed his disagreement with the description of Tatum as the “softest” superstar in Celtics history. Tatum’s current performance this season is impressive. He is averaging 28.2 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 5.6 assists per game in the 2024-25 NBA season.

Anna Horford Reacts To Jayson Tatum’s NBA MVP Ladder Ranking

Jayson Tatum has been delivering outstanding performances for the Celtics during the 2024-25 NBA regular season. However, he currently does not occupy the leading position in the KIA NBA MVP Ladder.

 

The NBA’s official website recently released the latest rankings, placing Nikola Jokic first, followed by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Giannis Antetokounmpo. Tatum is ranked fourth, a position that did not sit well with Al Horford’s sister, Anna Horford, who expressed disappointment in a recent post on X (formerly Twitter).

“Only reason Jayson isn’t #1 is because you guys are f*cking haters,” Horford wrote in her recent post on X.

Only reason Jayson isn’t #1 is because you guys are f*cking haters. https://t.co/TaZFuSMIVq

— Anna Horford (@AnnaHorford) January 4, 2025

In a recent interview, Tatum expressed his focus on winning a championship rather than pursuing the MVP award. The Celtics recently triumphed over the Houston Rockets with a score of 109-86, which marked their third consecutive victory. With an impressive record of 26 wins and nine losses, they are performing strongly in the 2024-25 NBA regular season. Their next game is scheduled against the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Paycom Center.

As the stage lights bathe the legendary lineup in a golden glow, the first chords of My Back Pages echo through the venue, sending shivers down the spines of an awe-struck audience. The synergy between Bob Dylan, Roger McGuinn, Tom Petty, Neil Young, Eric Clapton, and George Harrison is palpable, each bringing their signature touch to the timeless classic. Gasps ripple through the crowd as Dylan’s poignant lyrics come alive, carried by the unique blend of voices and instruments. It’s more than a performance—it’s a moment etched into musical history, leaving the audience in a state of euphoric reverence.

There was a hell of an anniversary celebration going on at Madison Square Garden in 1992. In the city where he got his start, the normally private Bob Dylan was staging a massive concert to recognise his three decades as an artist. It was a rare nostalgic moment for Dylan, and a parade of rock royalty came out to congratulate him.

It’s the kind of lineup that boggles the mind: former collaborators like The Band, George Harrison, and Tom Petty rubbed elbows with famous admirers, including Eric Clapton, Neil Young, Johnny Cash, Stevie Wonder, and Pearl Jam, among many others. Even the below-the-line names are legendary: a band that included greats like Jim Keltner, G. E. Smith, and Booker T. and the MGs.

The concert was supposed to be a happy occasion, but now it tends to be remembered for one infamous moment. Singer Sinead O’Connor was one of the many Dylan fans on hand to perform, but just two weeks before, O’Connor made headlines when she ripped up a picture of the Pope on Saturday Night Live. O’Connor was booed by the Garden crowd, and in a picture that continues to live on in pop culture, Kris Kristofferson went on stage to comfort O’Connor. She would sing just one song, plus a snippet of Bob Marley’s ‘War’, before leaving the stage.

It’s a shame that one ugly moment mars what was otherwise a celebratory night. June Carter and Johnny Cash duetted on ‘It Ain’t Me Babe’, Wonder took on ‘Blowin’ in the Wind’, Young whipped up a fiery version of ‘All Along the Watchtower’, and George Harrison made an ultra-rare live stage appearance singing ‘Absolutely Sweet Marie’.

Before the grand finale of ‘Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door’, some of the concert’s biggest names came together to trade verses on ‘My Back Pages’, the classic cut from Another Side of Bob Dylan. Roger McGuinn led a very Byrds-like version of the track, recalling the band’s cover from 1967 that helped make the song an all-time great. Petty and Young helped cap off the first chorus before each taking a verse of their own.

Clapton takes the first guitar solo before almost missing out on his verse. Initially, it looks like Clapton defers to Dylan before rushing to the microphone a few beats too late, picking things up smoothly once the measure returns to the one. It’s only then that Dylan steps up to croak out the fifth verse, and since it’s his song, one would think that the proceedings would end there. But even Dylan defers to Harrison for the final verse: you try keeping a Beatle from taking a song’s final part.

Check out ‘My Back Pages’ from the 30th-anniversary celebration down below.

Milwaukee Bucks superman Giannis Antetokounmpo has made a few headlines in recent weeks. First he led his team to the second annual NBA Cup Championship with a 26 PT, 19 REB, 10 AST performance. Then he broke Shaq’s record for most games scoring 20-plus on 50% shooting–26 contests and counting. Thursday revealed the first round of All-Star fan voting with, guess who, Giannis leading all players for a second consecutive year, at 1,710,630 votes.

Dec 17, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) celebrates with the most valuable player and championship trophies after winning the Emirates NBA Cup championship game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images

Despite all this, his MVP odds are up to +1200 at some places. Is now the time to fire off a bid for the twice-crowned champ?

At a market consensus of -115 and +122, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic are the clear-cut favorites–make no mistake about it. Giannis trails the competition in holistic metrics like plus-minus, net rating, and player impact rating (PIE), and the Bucks sit just two games above .500 (17-15).

While all of this is true, traditional stats still heavily influence voting, and in that area, Giannis’ has a strong profile: his 32.4 PPG (1st), 11.7 RPG (7th) and 6.0 APG (29th) offer the best challenge to Joker’s 31.0, 13.2 and 9.7. The Bucks big man has a legitimate case. For MVP bettors, is +1200 too much to pass up?

Jan 29, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) controls the ball under pressure from Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) and forward Peyton Watson (8) in the fourth quarter at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

How Advanced Stats Hurt Giannis’ Case–And Why They Underestimate His Value 

The best argument for giving Thanasis’ big brother a third trophy lies in what might seem to be his greatest weakness versus the field. It relies on the fact that 1) the Bucks aren’t as good as other stars’ teams and 2) that  Giannis’ advanced stats are not as impressive because his team relies on him so heavily. To be halfway decent, they need to live and breathe through Giannis. While the same could be said for almost every superstar’s squad, it is especially true of Milwaukee.

Naturally, team-centric metrics for individual performance like plus-minus and net rating will be better when good players play for good teams.

Take the plus-minus figures for the six main MVP candidates according to betting odds:

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 12.2
Jason Tatum                     9.3
Nikola Jokic                      9.2
Karl Anthony-Towns         7.1
Victor Wembanyama        4.6
Giannis Antetokounmpo  1.3.

Now consider the win-loss records of each player’s team:

SGA, Thunder 29-5

Tatum, Celtics 26-9

KAT, Knicks 24-11

Joker, Nuggets 19-14

Giannis, Bucks 17-15

Wemby, Spurs 18-16.

In the MVP conversation, win-loss record inevitably exerts sizable sway on voters. Yes, team performance is due in great part to the performance of its best players; yes, great players elevate the roster around them. And, yes, “team” stat or not, Shai leads OKC’s second best player, Jalen Williams, by 5-6 points in both plus-minus and net rating. An NBA cheat code, he is simply having an incredible season by both advanced and traditional measures.

But consider: While Derrick white and Jason Tatum share very similar numbers in the above categories, but there is little doubt about who belongs in the MVP race.

Bottom line, it is important to understand how certain statistics incorporate an entire roster’s performance. It would be ridiculously superficial to take one look at plus-minus figures and dismiss Giannis from consideration.

Giannis benefits from PIE vs Net Rating and Plus-Minus 

Net rating tells a similarly exaggerated story:

SGA 17.0

Tatum 12.3

Jokic 11.0

KAT 9.9

Wemby 6.0

Giannis 2.7.
But let’s now examine PIE, another metric that attempts to capture player value relative to collective data. Player impact rating represents the ratio of individual contributions to everything that happened during a player’s time on the floor. (Formula here.) A significant distinction from plus-minus and net rating is that it specifically incorporates individual statistics, not just what happened while the individual was involved.

Essentially, PIE measures how much “stuff” a player accounts for. This allows it to better isolate superstar-level impact and workload from team ability.

Here is how MVP contenders match up:

Giannis 21.3

Jokic 20.7

SGA 20.3

Wemby 18.1

KAT 17.6

Tatum 16.9.
When you think about it, the change in rankings make sense. The Bucks have only one other All-Star level player in Damian Lillard. On both ends of the court, Giannis assumes the lion’s share of responsibility. Jokic is in much the same shoes in Denver. San Antonio runs through Wemby. Meanwhile, the Knicks and Celtics are two stellar teams with multiple options.

A look at usage rates vindicates this narrative. At 36.0%, Giannis is far and away the most heavily utilized of the group, with Tatum (29.9%) and KAT (26.2%) consuming the lowest number of possessions. Wemby and Joker register usage rates of 31.8% and 30.0%. Shai is second on the list at 32.5%.

Dec 17, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) dribbles against Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (0) during the 3rd quarter of the Emirates NBA Cup championship game at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Candice Ward-Imagn Images

And that’s the thing, isn’t it? Within the above observations, what once again stands out like a sore thumb–or a blazing beacon–is Shai. The Thunder point guard checks both boxes. He is the best player on a really good team, and he handles a huge amount of responsibility. He is the odds-on MVP favorite for a reason. At 31.0 PPG, 5.4 RPG, and 6.1 APG his traditional numbers are aesthetically pleasing. His lockdown defense means that Giannis backers cannot point to that area as an advantage over Shai.

On the offensive end of the floor, Giannis could help his efficiency rating by shooting better on threes (22.2% on less than an attempt per game) and free throws (60.3%, 11.3 attempts). As it is, his effective field goal and true shooting percentages do not stand out from the others’ despite his raw success (60.6% from the field).

Two-Time Winner Is Worth Considering As a Relative Longshot

What’s relevant to bettors, though, isn’t whether SGA, Jokic, or Giannis will win. It’s about playing the price relative to probability. At this point in the season, the two frontrunners have unappealingly short odds. While justly favored, it doesn’t make sense to me that a Shai or Joker MVP is nearly 12 times as likely as a third for the Greek Freak.

For example, no one wants players hurt, but injuries happen. Historically, Giannis is a better candidate for that than the other two, but his odds are also way longer, meaning he doesn’t have to win all that often to make it a profitable play. At odds of +1200, the break-even point dips to 7.69%.

Mar 8, 2022; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) moves to the basket against Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) and forward Isaiah Roby (22) during the second half at Paycom Center. Milwaukee won 142-115. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports

Currently, he has a strong hold on that number three spot in the pecking order, with Tatum next up a consensus +2200. In terms of record, the only really uphill battle he has is against SGA and OKC. To be blunt: he doesn’t have a chance of catching him in that department.

But what if the Bucks find enough of themselves, which is how they seemed to be trending when they won the Cup, to finish with 48 wins and fourth in the Eastern Conference standings? When Jokic won his second MVP in 2022, the Nuggets went 48-34 and ended up sixth in the Western Conference. Maybe–just maybe–Giannis has a worthwhile shot.

Breaking Down Giannis’ Odds in the MVP Market as a Whole

At his consensus price of +1100, Giannis’ implied odds of winning the award are 8.33%. Implied odds are not the same thing as actual probability, due to the “vig” charged by sportsbooks. Instead, it is the frequency at which an event must occur for a wager to break even.

In this case, the question is whether Giannis stands a better chance to win than the 10 to 1 odds he’s being priced at.

For context, comparing our man’s odds to the total implied probability of every candidate in the general market, as listed on the Action Network’s odds tracker, gives him a market share of just 6.87%.( If we assumed every price were accurate, this would be his actual chance of winning.) Although this is not a measure of the odds needed to turn a profit (still 8.33% at +1100), it is a useful tool of comparison. Does he really merit such a modest piece of the pie?

By contrast, Jokic has implied odds of 45.05% (37.13% market share). Shai lists at 53.49%, a 44.09% share.

There may be significant variation in price between books, but the consensus figures help gauge what the market thinks about each player, and whether skewed public opinion provides a betting opportunity.

Dec 20, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) drives to the basket against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the first quarter at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

One Scenario Where a Giannis MVP Ticket Ages Extremely Well 

Here’s how it happens. SGA and the Thunder cruise to the one-seed. Because they don’t have much to play for down the stretch, Shai isn’t required to put up 40 points every other night and his numbers take a dip. In the second half of the season, Jalen Williams continues to grow, as does their already potent two-man game, and  production becomes just a bit more balanced.

The Nuggets, who have shown weakness this season and anyway don’t care that much about the regular season, continue at their current 47-win pace and finish with 45-50. Joker’s eye-candy stats, especially his PPG as he looks to score less often to conserve energy and get everyone in rhythm for the playoffs, deflate a little.

Meanwhile, Giannis hoists his team on his back like the hulk to secure the fourth, or even the fifth seed to avoid ending up sixth and playing one of the big three in the top-heavy Eastern Conference in the first round. His counting stats are on steroids. Think 33, 12, and 6 shooting over 60%. (A minimal uptick from where they are now, but the others’ have decreased.) His explosive style only fuels the narrative. Milwaukee will probably lose in the second round, but hey, it’s is a regular season award.

Is that scenario, or a similar one, likely to parlay itself into existence? Probably not. Does it have greater than an 8% chance of happening? Tough to say for certain, but it feels like the answer is yes. It’s hard to predict exactly how the season will play out. That works to the advantage of longer odds, like his.

Typically, futures markets are so juiced by the books that it can be hard wade through all the muck to find a decent play. With the options currently on the board for MVP, I would venture a May podium speech from Giannis is getting a better price than any other nominee.