The NBA Finals are nip and tuck, with the Bucks now headed home with a chance to clinch the franchise’s first title in 50 years after winning a pivotal Game 5 in Phoenix to take a (3-2) series lead.
It’s only right that we here at the Shadow League join in the legacy talk that will become a point of emphasis.
Especially if Giannis closes out the deal tonight.
With Giannis Antetokounmpo this title would further solidify his already glorious resume which boasts two NBA MVPs and a DPOY award, not to mention many other numerous accolades and accomplishments.
And although folks may not wanna admit it he’d be able to sit at the table with other all-time great power forwards.
If he were to lose, he’s still done enough to be a first-ballot Hall of Famer and mentioned amongst the greats. However, just ask legends like Karl Malone, Charles Barkley and Patrick Ewing how much winning a title puts you in a different stratosphere. He’s only one win from accomplishing that goal.
Chris Paul has accomplished everything you can as a point guard, short of winning a title and MVP. He’s probably the best passing point guard of his generation and his basketball IQ is only rivaled by probably LeBron. The title chase has neglected him a few times, once with the Clippers and once with the Rockets. His legacy is already intact but a title would silence all the critics who say he’s incapable of winning the big games.
If Paul were to come up short it just allows those naysayers who speak ill of him to only get louder. But either way, he’s a definite first-ballot Hall of Famer.
He’s closing in on 40, so this is probably his best shot.
For Devin Booker the young Uber talented player for the Suns, winning a title would continue to expedite his meteoric rise into the upper-echelon of NBA players and shooting guards.
Only 24, he’s not even in his prime yet, so he has time. Something tells me we’ll see him in this position again during his career. Losing it will sting, but as I stated, he still has plenty of time at 24.
Monty Williams has been through it all and to be here, after losing his wife and then stepping away from coaching, is amazing in itself. Born and raised in Prince George’s County MD, he’d join Kevin Durant as a hometown hero who brought a title back to the basketball-heavy DMV area.
The icing on the cake is his leading a team that had the worst record in the league just two years ago to a championship. He’d also be only the seventh Black coach to win an NBA title joining Bill Russell, Al Attles, Lenny Wilkins, KC Jones, Doc Rivers, and Tyronn Lue.
If Williams falters he can still hold his head high and he’s a good enough coach and leader to have this team back here in the near future. He’s also relatively young so I like his chances of eventually getting it done.
Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer has long caught the ire of many basketball analysts for his lack of adjustments when things don’t go as planned.
A Gregg Popovich coaching tree disciple, he’s won a ton of games at stops in Atlanta and now Milwaukee. He’s now one win away from pretty much silencing all the naysayers and joining that elusive championship-winning coaches fraternity. Once there what folks say will matter even less than it does now.
Coming up short will be tough for Bud, and he won’t hear the last of it from all the media outlets who bash him daily. But I get the feeling it won’t phase him at all.
