35 points, 17 rebounds, and 20 assists.

Giannis Antetokounmpo’s performance in the Milwaukee Bucks’ 126-113 win over the Philadelphia 76ers was so dominant that it looked more like a typographical error or something straight out of a video game. The two-time NBA Most Valuable Player became the first player in league history to record at least 35 points, 15 rebounds, and 20 assists in a single game, reminding everyone that he is still one of the league’s premier talents.

While historic stat lines such as this come quite often for the Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic, Antetokounmpo has proven through the years that he is capable of delivering similar performances when the opportunity arises. Yes, the Sixers were missing all three of their NBA All-Stars—Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Paul George—yet that should not take away from the magnitude of Antetokounmpo’s night. You still have to play the opponent in front of you and he did this to the best of his abilities.

With star point guard Damian Lillard sidelined indefinitely with deep vein thrombosis, Antetokounmpo has had to pick up more of the playmaking load for the Bucks over these past few weeks. This paved the way for Antetokounmpo’s standout line as the high point and rebound totals are nothing new to him, but the assist numbers marked a new career-high. 

Though Lillard’s injury has brought the best out of Antetokounmpo, it comes at quite an unfortunate time for Milwaukee. The Bucks looked like dark horse contenders in the East led by Antetokounmpo and Lillard and even won the 2024 NBA Cup (In-Season Tournament) last December. Now, Milwaukee looks like it is headed for a third consecutive first round exit or a brief second round cameo at best. 

The Bucks’ middling record in recent seasons has somewhat dimmed Antetokounmpo’s shine since their breakthrough run to the 2021 NBA title. He is talented enough to be a perennial front-runner in the league’s Most Valuable Player race and add to his collection of trophies, yet Milwaukee’s underwhelming win-loss totals in the years since their championship season often hurt his case.

Now 30 years old, Antetokounmpo should still be able to perform at an All-NBA level for at least a few more seasons. It would be a shame if the Bucks waste these years and it is imperative that they continue to upgrade this roster in the offseason. Surrounding him with older players like the 34-year-old Lillard and 37-year-old Brook Lopez may not be the most sustainable strategy moving forward, especially given the durability concerns that typically come with age. 

Antetokounmpo is still one of the best players in the NBA, though he cannot carry a team on his own. If Milwaukee wants to maximize what’s left of his prime and win another championship, they must improve the supporting cast around him. A miracle run this postseason is not entirely out of the question, but the team would be better served planning for the long term rather than hoping for things to just magically fall into place.