Even a nagging injury couldn’t stop Giannis Antetokounmpo from showing out for the Milwaukee Bucks. A short-manned Orlando Magic did manage to push the Deers to the edge. However, the Greek Freak’s ruthless 37-point performance ensured a second straight trip to Vegas for the NBA Cup semifinals. The performance, as with any of Antetokounmpo’s astounding feats was driven by one emotion – competition.

An early need for revenge from Goga Bitadze led to a thunderous dunk that saw the two-time MVP flex his muscles in all its glory. The height of the tournament itself then fueled another terrific night for the Greek forward. For him though, the stage doesn’t matter. Antetokounmpo is always going on full motor when the chase for winning is concerned. While that powers him to basketball excellence, it can also tend to become a sickness.

Under the bright lights of Las Vegas, the casinos are often the highlights. Bobby Portis, a teammate of the Bucks cornerstone admitted to indulging in some blackjack. However, Giannis Antetokounmpo can’t share that fun. It’s because even though the saying is the house always wins, the Greek Freak feels his insatiable spirit to compete could lead to an addiction.

“I don’t gamble because I believe I have a competition problem. So I try to stay away from gambling because whatever I do, I do 100%. I don’t drink, I don’t gamble I don’t do none of that because I know if I got myself into that, it’s going to be hard for me to get out of it,” he admitted at the end of his press conference tonight.

The words reverberate the sentiments of Michael Jordan. His Airness became the victim of public scrutiny due to his hobby of gambling. However, for the Bulls icon, it was something he enjoyed due to his unquenchable thirst to always compete, something Jordan spoke about in multiple interviews.

With over 236 million in career earnings and an imminent NBA Cup paycheck on the horizon, a little fun wouldn’t hurt Anteokounmpo. But under the allure of Sin City, time and money both can go by within a flash and in unfathomable time. Maybe it’s better that Giannis Antetokounmpo is reserving his war spirit for the court.

Giannis Anteokounmpo on trajectory to win NBA Cup MVP

The baton has to pass. In the inaugural edition of the In-Season Tournament, LeBron James emphatically claimed the honors after guiding the Lakers to the title. Now, Giannis Antetokounmpo seems bound for that result, only two wins away from a tempting prize and additional glory to his resume.

So far, his numbers are simply stupendous. As he mentioned, whether in a scrimmage or a Game 7, his intensity is always in high gear. In four games of the NBA Cup, Antetokounmpo is averaging a staggering 31.3 points on 70.6% shooting. It includes a game against the Detroit Pistons where he missed only one of his eleven makes.

His electric showing against the Orlando Magic further solidified his status on the ladder. In the group stages, he and Damian Lillard led the Bucks to a point differential of +50, the best mark overall. Additionally, on the defensive end, his 2.5 blocks per game is the second highest, proving his two-way versatility.

The Greek Freak has been a juggernaut during his herculean stretch in the NBA Cup. The only remaining rival of his could be Shai-Gilgeous Alexander. The Thunder shooting guard also helped seal a semifinal ticket with a surgical 39-point performance to drown the Dallas Mavericks tonight.

The race for the honor will come down to the wire, essentially down to who gets to the Finals in Las Vegas. The Bucks await a battle against either the New York Knicks or the Atlanta Hawks. These are two teams the Bucks are yet to get a win against. However, the team has recovered from their early season slump, winning nine of their eleven games.

Do you think Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks can win the NBA Cup this season? Let us know your views in the comments below.