LeBron James, Cavaliers not ready to anoint Giannis Antetokounmpo as MVP favorite, yet
MILWAUKEE — LeBron James and Milwaukee Bucks coach Jason Kidd sounded like seasoned NBA lifers tamping down any bold proclamations two games into the season.
Is Giannis Antetokounmpo an MVP candidate?
“Well, I think at the end of the day it’s all about team success,” James said. “That’s what we all want. I’m not here to piggyback on what someone else has challenged him on.”
James was referring to the Kobe Bryant issued MVP goal for the Bucks’ budding superstar. Kidd took James’ approach as well.
“It’s not LeBron against Giannis,” Kidd said. “It’s the team. I think they’re both similar when you talk about team and understanding how to use your teammates to be successful. But I think Giannis being 22 years old, has risen, he has taken his game, and I’m not saying he’s LeBron, but he is close at that age when LeBron was 22.”
James, who won the first of his four MVPs at 24, and his Cavs got the better of Antetokounmpo’s Bucks on Friday night, improving to 2-0 on the season with a 116-97 win in Milwaukee’s home opener. Antetokounmpo lived up to the early chatter, finishing with 34 points on 15 for 22 shooting to go along with eight assists and eight rebounds, but only one other player (Malcolm Brogdon, 16), reached double-figures. That recipe, against a deep Cavs team, left the Bucks with little chance.
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James, who finished with 24 points, eight assists and five rebounds, seized the game in the second half after a competitive first. Several highlight dunks and a particularly deflating fourth quarter block on Antetokounmpo overshadowed a somewhat sloppy, turnover-filled effort. Of the Cavs’ 16 turnovers, James led the team with five.
It was the highly-touted depth of the reigning Eastern Conference champions that overwhelmed Milwaukee. Six guys scored in double figures, including 45 points from the bench. Reserve Kyle Korver caught fire, burying five of six three-pointers and summer addition Jeff Green added 10. Tristan Thompson added an efficient eight points and eight boards.
“If (bench scoring) can be a common thread for us going forward, it’s only going to help all of us not log as many minutes,” Kevin Love said. “Especially with guys, our veteran guys that have played a lot of minutes, gone to a lot of NBA Finals, like LeBron, or conference finals. … We’re thinking big picture.”
The Cavs, who are already adjusting to a ton of new faces, are also expected to play without starting point guard Derrick Rose on Saturday vs. Orlando after he rolled his ankle on a hard foul from Greg Monroe in the fourth quarter. Veteran Jose Calderon will likely start in his absence.
“I think I’m the only person in the league that’s not getting a flagrant for that call,” said a frustrated Rose. “Come on, man. For sure I’m the only player. It is what it is.”
Fortunately for the Cavs, it’s a problem they can withstand.
“To be a great team, to go where we all want to go, the bench has to be very, very good,” Dwyane Wade added.
It also helps that James, thanks to Jae Crowder, has been freed of his burden of guarding the opposing team’s best player, which meant Antetokounmpo on Friday.
“It helps him a lot,” Crowder told USA TODAY Sports. “He doesn’t have to exert a lot of energy. He can roam a little bit on the defensive end. He’s a great talker. If he’s the second line of defense, he’s great at putting guys in position to make plays. It works for everybody.”
Crowder, who finished with 14 points on 6 for 8 shooting, wasn’t ready to anoint Antetokounmpo, either.
“He’s pretty good,” he said. “But I don’t know about MVP. That comes with impact, team winning. A lot of stuff comes with that. But he’s a great player.”
What’s more, Crowder wasn’t about to draw any grand conclusions with 80 games left.
“It’s game two,” he said. “Don’t overthink it.”
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