An NBA All-Star said his former teammate is about to win MVP, instead of Luka Doncic.
Doncic is emerging as the early front-runner for the award after his weight loss was revealed on the cover of Men’s Health magazine. Doncic was labelled as out of shape last season, but he’s set for a revenge tour with his new physique.
But aside from Doncic, the award is wide open. Almost every NBA superstar has motivations to go off for big seasons, none less than this All-Star’s pick for the award.
Jeff Teague says Giannis Antetokounmpo will win MVP
Former NBA All-Star Jeff Teague said that his former Milwaukee Bucks teammate Giannis Antetokounmpo will win the MVP award.
There has been speculation that Antetokounmpo could leave Milwaukee this offseason. Those reports have since died down after the Bucks made offseason moves, but even in a weak Eastern Conference, they don’t have a contending roster.
But that’s exactly why Antetokounmpo is Teague’s pick for MVP. Speaking on the Club 520 podcast, who were discussing whether Doncic would win MVP, he said, “You got [Doncic] as MVP? I don’t. I got Giannis winning MVP.
“Nobody’s on his team, he’s about to carry so crazy. He’s about to average 34, 13 and 8. He’s about to run point guard basically – his stats are about to be crazy.
The Bucks signed Myles Turner this offseason, but that’s their only notable move. They are still in search of a point guard after they waived Damian Lillard, so right now Antetokounmpo might be their primary ball handler.
He’s averaged 30 points in the last three seasons, but Antetokounmpo will have to drag the Bucks up the Eastern Conference standings in order to win the award.
Lowest win tally ever for an NBA MVP
There is basically no precedent for a player winning MVP after his team won less than 50 games. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander won MVP after taking the Oklahoma City Thunder to 68 wins last season.
In order to win it on a middling team, you need to do something historic. That’s what Russell Westbrook did with the Thunder back in 2017.
Following the departure of Kevin Durant, Westbrook became the second player to average a triple-double, taking the Thunder to a 47–35 record and winning MVP. That’s the only example of this in the modern era.
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Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer before LeBron James snatched his crown, won MVP in 1976 despite the Lakers going 40‑42. And the lowest ever win tally for an MVP is Bob Petit, whose St. Louis Hawks finished 33–39 in the 1955‑56 season.
So ultimately, Antetokounmpo needs a winning season in Milwaukee to win his third MVP, and that’s his biggest obstacle.