Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo Named NBA MVP

The Milwaukee Bucks fell two games short of the NBA Finals.

But they won big at the NBA Awards.

A tearful Giannis Antetokounmpo earned Most Valuable Player honors and Mike Budenholzer won Coach of the Year on Monday night in Santa Monica.

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Antetokounmpo, a 24-year-old forward from Greece, beat out Paul George of Oklahoma City and James Harden of Houston, who won last year.

“This is just the beginning. My goal is to win a championship. I’m going to do whatever it takes to make that happen.” pic.twitter.com/L0Q3WD0cl2
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) June 25, 2019

Antetokounmpo averaged 27.7 points and 12.5 rebounds while earning All-NBA first-team honors this season, his sixth with the Bucks. He led the franchise to the best record in the regular season and the Bucks reached the Eastern Conference finals.

Tears rolled down his cheeks as Antetokounmpo thanked his mother and brothers who were in the audience at Barker Hanger. He credited his late father for pushing him toward his goals and credited his teammates and coaching staff for their help.

NBA player Giannis Antetokounmpo, of the Milwaukee Bucks, reacts as he accepts the most valuable player award at the NBA Awards on Monday, June 24, 2019, at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, Calif. *Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP*

Milwaukee Bucks Coach Mike Budenholzer — NBA coach Mike Budenholzer, of the Milwaukee Bucks, accepts the coach of the year award at the NBA Awards on Monday, June 24, 2019, at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, Calif. *Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP*

Budenholzer also got choked up while thanking his family after his second coaching honor. He earned the trophy for the first time with Atlanta in 2015.

He guided the Bucks to a 60-22 record in the regular season in his first year with the franchise, leading them to the Eastern Conference finals, where they lost to eventual NBA champion Toronto.

Budenholzer also coached Team Giannis in the All-Star Game last season.

He beat out Denver’s Mike Malone and Doc Rivers of the Los Angeles Clippers.

“From the start of the year to the end of the year, what the team did is amazing… This award is about our team, so thank you.” pic.twitter.com/wYn77rwY8M
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) June 25, 2019

In another win for the Bucks, the team’s general manager, Jon Horst, was named NBA Executive of the Year. Horst is the second general manager in Bucks history to win the award, according to a Bucks press release.

John Hammond won the award following the 2009-10 season. In his second season as general manager, Horst hired Budenholzer, according to the Bucks.