Nickel: Giannis Antetokounmpo in MVP contention while also playing through minor injuries

It looks like Giannis Antetokounmpo is in the mix for the NBA MVP this year based on several projections.

But as of today, he's not favored. And yet he’s in MVP form. Offense, in and out, career-high in assists, and No. 3 scoring in the NBA - and that's with Damian Lillard by his side. Defense too; who wants to face him? Toughness. Leadership and teamsmanship. Media and accountability. All of it has been outstanding. (Again).

But now it might be time to think about the next month and how he wants to play it – and that is always a challenge. He’s the ultimate competitor. But most importantly, there is only one gear with him. So when he's already fought through four injuries in 2024, it was a good thing he took a seat on Sunday, skipping the Phoenix Suns, less than 24 hours after his coach gave him a different kind of green light - to rest.

"We literally had that talk today,” said coach Doc Rivers on Saturday afternoon after a rare opportunity for the Bucks to practice after an off-day on Friday. “I said hey, I love the heroes. I just don't like heroes in March. I like 'em May, in June.”

After the Bucks beat Phoenix, 140-129, Sunday, Rivers reiterated that point.

"It's not an injury; we're just concerned a little bit," said Rivers. "We planted it in him (the idea). And he had to do it, which were happy he decided to do."

The NBA MVP comparison

Most polls agree that there are a handful of top players - maybe five in a crowded field that includes Luka Dončić - in the race for MVP, but really one has emerged as a clear favorite for NBA MVP:

Nikola Jokić, 29, Denver (47-20): 65 games played, 26.0 points, 12.2 rebounds, 9.1 assists, 109.0 defensive rating, 34.3 minutes.

For comparison sake, here's two others:

Giannis Antetokounmpo, 29, Bucks (44-24): 64 games played, 30.8 points, 11.2 rebounds, 6.3 assists, 112 defensive rating, 35 minutes.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, 25, Oklahoma City (47-20): 66 games played, 30.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, 6.3 assists, 110.1 defensive rating, 34.5 minutes.

NBA MVP odds tracker: Nikola Jokić building slight lead over Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

An argument for Giannis for MVP

The crowd is fair; but Giannis is not anyone's favorite - at least in the early mentions.

“It’s almost as it the level he plays at, every night, it’s the consistency – people become numb to it,” said Bucks guard A.J. Green. “On both ends.

“But that’s what he does. He should easily be in the top; he should be at the top. His presence, on both ends ... teams have to be aware of throughout the course of a game. I don’t think there’s many others. Who else in the league, for the whole game: ‘Where’s Giannis? Where’s Giannis?’”

Playing tough

Antetokounmpo's has battled through a lot already this year: left ankle soreness; right calf strain; right mid-foot sprain. He had his shoulder wrapped in January for a contusion. Back spasms early in the year and also recently. Right patella tendonitis pain in his right knee – the "good" knee – was hurting in February. His left Achilles tendonitis flared up two weeks ago but he played on the four-game West Coast road trip anyway.

And he’s been playing with a left hamstring pain that landed him on the injured list in the last week (at least), until Sunday. He even jumped on the exercise bike early in the game, in the win against Philadelphia, to keep that hamstring warm and ready.

So what, right? When Antetokounmpo pours in 32 points in 37 minutes in his last game last Thursday night in a win over the Philadelphia 76ers-minus-Joel Embiid, its crazy to even question if he’s playing hurt. It's even easier to overanalyze his body language. It might offend to ask him about it because he’s been asked a lot; what more does he need to prove? Nothing. He knows his body, he knows what’s best.

With the return of Khris Middleton and Malik Beasley on Sunday, it made all the sense to rest for just the fourth game this season, or maybe Antetokounmpo went through his pre-game warmups and didn't feel right. It's not clear. Less than 2 hours before tip, Rivers thought Antetokounmpo was playing.

The IRONMAN approach is impressive either way. Antetokounmpo has said this year that he needs to play as much as possible. He didn't play any competitive basketball for his national team in Greece in preparation for this season. And he wanted to build a rapport with the late-arriving Lillard. But with the NBA's new rule of a 65-game minimum requirement for the MVP, he's assured that he won't fall short there. Its just a little quizzical that he's not mentioned more as an MVP contender.

"I don't want to compare guys but he's kind of getting the LeBron treatment a little bit to where like, the things he's doing - they kind of just used to it now,” said Bucks forward Bobby Portis. “It's like, ‘Yeah, he's supposed to do that.’ LeBron's early years in Cleveland, and then when he went to Miami - it's like, 'oh, he's just supposed to do that.' It is what people got used to watching."

Portis said that the voting audience becomes accustomed to dominant performances. However, Portis added, it’s the work that Giannis puts in behind the scenes – the weight room, the recovery, and treatment that his body demands – that continues to make Antetokounmpo elite, even in this league of the best players on the planet.

"Sometimes in the media world, guys just get bored sometimes with watching the same thing and want something new,” said Portis. “I mean, that's just life in general man, you don't want to keep eating the Frosted Flakes all the times. Sometimes you want Captain Crunch. That's just how the sports world works."

The average age of the NBA MVP has been 27; 14 of the last 15 NBA MVPs have been between the ages of 24-28. So, the clock is ticking, too; although Karl Malone got it when he was 35.

Hard to know

It’s impossible to really know Antetokounmpo’s psyche. On one hand he has said he doesn’t care about scoring titles.

On the other hand, he will follow the Indiana Pacers team down a hallway to retrieve the game ball after pouring in 64 points.

An 11-year-veteran in the NBA has earned the right to change his mind as quickly as the Wisconsin weather on what motivates him. Equally so, its also his prerogative to choose what to reveal and what to keep private in his own personal reserves.

But in the general rule of actions always being louder than words, he’s always been a green-light go kind of guy. He’s a warrior at heart. A fighter to the core.

Besides, no player wants a seat on the bench. Khris Middleton can testify to that. Injury rehab is twice or triple the work. It's isolating.

"I don’t want to say it’s a bitch – but it’s a bitch,” said Middleton the day before his return.

But it won't be up to Rivers to hold Giannis back, being on the job now for about two dozen games; it will be up to the Bucks medical team and Antetokounmpo himself.

“I said, I don't know your body. I just want you to be healthy,” Rivers recalled as his conversation with Antetokounmpo over the weekend. “I don't get involved because I've learned players can read that as me pressuring them to play - and not to play - and you just can't win with that. I just wanted him to know that it's OK! If he can't go. So that's how I phrased it without being involved.

“But I think our medical team has done a great job with it."

Sitting out games is not something to be taken lightly - and Antetokounmpo has never acted like he does. Fans travel far and wide to see him play. Lionel Messi sat out a friendly soccer match in February in Hong Kong while resting and fans booed and sponsors demanded refunds. There's pressure from all sides for superstars like Giannis to play.

But he's in a tough spot, isn't he? He should remain in the running for his third MVP - and first since 2020 - and keep fighting for all the reasons he holds dear, knowing full well what the ultimate goal is. But he may not need to follow the MVP race. Lillard has been in the running for it in the past, but that has changed for him now.

"This team specifically is playing for a chance to win," said Lillard. "That's the only reason for our season."

But at least Antetokounmpo knows he can count on the support of his very new, but very experienced coach, to take the well-earned break when needed.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Giannis Antetokounmpo in MVP contention while playing through injuries