Giannis Antetokounmpo has had an incredible start to the 2017-18 season for the Milwaukee Bucks and he doesn't look like he's going to be slowing down anytime soon.Helping the Bucks to a 2-1 record on the season so far, averaging 38.3 points, 9.6 rebounds, and five assists per game across the three games played, demonstrating why he one of the favourites to be in the MVP conversation this year.On Saturday night against the Portland Trail Blazers, Antetokounmpo emphasized how this could be his year by scoring a career-high of 44 points to help the Bucks earn a 113-110 win. He also had eight rebounds and four assists in the game.Last month, however, the worst happened for the Milwaukee star, as his father Charles passed away suddenly on September 30. Giannis did something special for his dad this week though, as he wrote a touching message on the game ball in the wake of his career-high scoring night.The message read: "This is for daddy. We got a win tonight and I got 44 points."
Not only was Antetokounmpo effective in front of the basket, but his defensive performances were fantastic as well, as the 22-year-old had two steals, the game-winning dunk, and a game-saving block on Jusuf Nurkic all in the final minute to help secure the team's win.
Antetokounmpo said according to Matt Velazquez of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel of receiving the ball from his teammates and dedicating it to his father: "It's special. Going forward I think that motivates me on a daily basis just playing hard for my family, especially for my dad because he loved to see us play.
"This is just the beginning. I'm not done yet. We've got 79 more games plus playoffs, hopefully. It's just the beginning. Hopefully, he's seeing us from above and he's proud of us."
How much further can The Greek go? The sky is literally the limit for him. He has the potential to not only win the MVP award this season but officially become one of the best players in the NBA today.
Antetokounmpo's 115 points through the first three games are the second-most in Bucks history, trailing only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's 117 in 1972-73. That's the kind of company he could soon find himself in.
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