It would be the simplest thing in the world for him to get overlooked in the shuffle. Coaching carousel, new superstar point guard, locker room turmoil, injuries, trades, wins, losses (magnified x1,000,000 because of everything else), not to mention the regular rhythm of an NBA season. Once the games get going, they don’t let up until the music of your season stops—preferably in June. When uncertainty meets the highest possible stakes, stability doesn’t get a chance to hog the spotlight.
So consider this article the much-needed acknowledgment of Giannis Antetokounmpo’s final leap from MVP to something even more special: the heart and soul buoying his franchise’s aspirations on and off the court.