Giannis Antetokounmpo is one of the most unique players to ever feature in the NBA and he deserves to be a candidate for multiple awards at the end of the season.

He is firmly in the MVP race and should be a Defensive Player of the Year candidate. It wouldn't even be crazy to see him receive votes as the Most Improved Player, an award he won in 2017.

The Greek Freak has elevated his game to new heights this season and has hit superstar status as one of the best players in the league.

He's averaging 27.8 points, 10.4 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.3 blocks per game for the 32-25 Milwaukee Bucks.

The team's hopes of securing a playoff spot this year lie with the 23-year-old and it'll be important to keep him healthy.

Giannis has dealt with minor knee issues since the summer which resulted in him missing the Eurobasket with Greece and sitting out four games this year with knee soreness.

In an interview with Eurohoops TV, Antetokounmpo revealed that the problem is due to excessive basketball.

"The situation with my knee is better now. I have a group of people who have helped me," he said, via CBS Sports.

When asked what he's been told by doctors, he said: "The problem is that I play too much."

The two-time All-Star says he has been advised simply to rest more and give his body a break.

"I have to rest more. This summer I had no time to rest. After the playoffs I went straight to the gym," he said.

"I went to see Kostas [his younger brother] and practiced for about a week and a half with him. I didn't have any rest, and that's how, um ... the situation deteriorated. After this season I will have time to rest."

At the start of the campaign, Antetokounmpo was in devastating form as he averaged 35 points a game and looked unstoppable.

But he eventually cooled off slightly and hasn't been able to maintain the same shape he was in during those early games.

After games in which he's missed to rest his sore knee, however, Giannis has often come back in better shape and looked quicker and stronger. Was this a coincidence?

"No it wasn't. I had time to rest. And when I was back in better shape I wanted to show my team and teammates that," Antetokounmpo.

"They know I'm in pain. When I play for 40 minutes every night, they say 'how is he in pain? He can play.' But I showed to my teammates when I said, 'guys, I will stay off for two games, and I will return in better shape.'"

For the second half of the campaign, the Bucks can't really afford to be without their star man and must look for ways to monitor his minutes.

They will also need to rely on others to step up and carry the load such as Khris Middleton and Eric Bledsoe. The return of Jabari Parker will also be a huge boost and ease the burden on Antetokounmpo.

Milwaukee has a team capable of challenging in the east but they'll need their All-NBA small forward to be at the peak of his powers to have any chance of success.