The Milwaukee Bucks are the NBA champions for the 2021 season.
Nobody expected them to be here, but now they are the best team in the league.
This is their first title in 50 long years.
They were led by Giannis Antetokounmpo.
He was by far the best player in the Finals.
Antetokounmpo averaged 35.2 points, 13.2 rebounds, and five assists per game.
His efficiency and defense were absurd as well.
This all led to him being the Finals MVP.
Khris Middleton was also fantastic throughout the series with his great scoring ability.
However, every Finals team needs their role players to step up.
That is what the Bucks got in this series.
They were able to get three of their role players to help them claim the title.
3. Pat Connaughton
The Bucks needed Pat Connaughton to step up in a big way for this series.
They lost Donte DiVincenzo for the rest of the season with a foot injury.
That meant Connaughton was going to have to step into a bigger role.
Connaughton was able to do just that in multiple ways.
Shooting threes is the model of consistency for him.
He made four threes in two games in this series.
There was also a three threes game as well.
Game 6 saw his shot not fall, but he was able to rebound.
His rebounding was a big key in the series as well.
Pat Connaughton was a Game-High +21 for the Bucks in Game 4
Planet Pat came up with clutch moments yet again, and put up 11 points, 9 rebounds off the bench pic.twitter.com/SZJvLQVLz9
— IKE Bucks Podcast (@IKE_Bucks) July 15, 2021
Connaughton stepped up as a big contributor for this title team.
2. Bobby Portis
Bobby Portis and his crazy eyes brought a level of energy to the Bucks that was much-needed.
In their toughest series against the Brooklyn Nets, which was in the second round, we saw Portis be taken out of the rotation.
We did not expect to see him become a contributor for the Bucks for the rest of the postseason.
However, Game 6 was a big moment for him.
Throughout the Finals, we saw flashes of him giving the Bucks a spark.
However, Game 6 was the game for Portis.
Off the bench, Portis scored 16 points and provided the energy when they needed it the most.
Bobby Portis tonight:
16 PTS
6-10 FG
2-5 3PTurns out Bobby was running to grab the Larry O’Brien trophy in the 4th quarter. pic.twitter.com/7o9A16widl
— StatMuse (@statmuse) July 21, 2021
Portis is now a fan favorite in Milwaukee.
He was a fantastic role player when they needed it the most.
1. Jrue Holiday
Yes, Jrue Holiday is a former All-Star.
He is also getting paid like a star.
The Bucks traded a lot to get him.
All of that is true.
However, Holiday was a true role player this series.
He did have a big offensive game in the series but in reality it was his defense that was the biggest factor.
His contribution was doing everything he needed to do for them to win the title.
Jrue Holiday was +159 this playoffs.
The highest +/- by any player. 😳🤯 pic.twitter.com/KVpUdbfdDl
— NBA Analysis Network (@HoopAnalysisNet) July 21, 2021
Holiday had some of the biggest, and best, steals in the Finals.
Game 5 was one of the most important ones we have ever seen.
Guarding Chris Paul is difficult.
The same is true for Devin Booker.
However, Holiday was able to do both.
That is what a role player does.
His scoring was a key, but that was not the major attribute the Bucks needed.
Instead, they got a defensive masterclass from a role-playing star.
NEXT: Why Giannis Antetokounmpo Deserved NBA Finals MVP Award