LOS ANGELES: Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo said Friday he’ll treasure his second straight NBA Most Valuable Player award and redouble his efforts to capture a league crown.
The 25-year-old from Greece became just the third player in history to earn MVP and Defensive Player of the Year honors in the same season, after Michael Jordan in 1988 and Hakeem Olajuwon in 1994.
“Michael Jordan, one of the best players who’s ever done it, if not the best,” Antetokounmpo said, speaking from a rooftop in Athens during the televised announcement of the award. “Hakeem, a guy that I look up to, he came from where I’m from, Nigeria, where I have roots.
“Just being in the same sentence with them, that means a lot to me.”
The player dubbed the “Greek Freak” became the 12th player to win back-to-back MVPs, joining Jordan, Stephen Curry, LeBron James, Steve Nash, Tim Duncan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Moses Malone, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell.
But, once again, the MVP award carries a bittersweet tinge after the top-seeded Bucks fell in five games to the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference semifinals in the quarantine bubble in Orlando, Florida.
Last year, Antetokounmpo won the MVP only for eventual champion Toronto to oust the Bucks in the Eastern Conference finals.
“Obviously I would love to be still in the bubble playing games, fighting,” Antetokounmpo said. “But at the end of the day I won the award. I’m extremely blessed.
“It’s been a long journey,” Antetokounmpo added. “The people that know me, the people that know my story, you can never take these moments for granted.”
Antetokounmpo won in a landslide, receiving 85 first-place votes from a global panel of sports reporters and broadcasters, the league announced on Friday.
Los Angeles Lakers star James received 16 first-place votes and the third finalist, James Harden of the Houston Rockets, did not receive any first-place votes.
The voting was based on performance from the start of the season through March 11, when play was shut down in the face of the coronavirus pandemic.
It did not included the “seeding games” played when teams in contention for playoff spots once play resumed in Orlando.
Antetokounmpo averaged 29.5 points, 13.6 rebounds and 5.6 assists in leading the Bucks to the best regular-season record in the pandemic-disrupted season.
But he had to watch from the sidelines as the Heat won game five of their semifinal series, nursing a sprained ankle suffered in game three and aggravated in game four.
“Obviously, I am disappointed to not be able to help our team go to the third round,” he said. “That feeling cannot take away from this award.
“I’m happy for this award, but I want more,” he said. “I want to be a champion.”
As a veteran entering his eighth season, Antetokounmpo will be eligible to receive a supermax contract extension from the Bucks.
The Bucks reportedly plan to extend that offer as soon as they can — after the 2019-20 season officially ends.
There has been widespread speculation as to whether a player of Antetokounmpo’s stature will be happy to remain in the small market of Milwaukee.
He met with Bucks owners including Marc Lasry before heading to Greece and has indicated he’d be open to staying.
Providing he’s convinced the team is determined to invest the resources to pursue a title, Antetokounmpo said Friday, “I don’t see why not to be in Milwaukee for the next 15 years.”
Bucks’ Antetokounmpo named NBA MVP for second straight year
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Bucks’ Antetokounmpo named NBA MVP for second straight year
- The 25-year-old became just the third player in history to earn MVP and Defensive Player of the Year honors in the same season, after Michael Jordan in 1988 and Hakeem Olajuwon in 1994
- The MVP award carries a bittersweet tinge after the top-seeded Bucks fell in five games to the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference semifinals
Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships celebrates women’s event’s 25th anniversary with world’s top 10
Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships celebrates women’s event’s 25th anniversary with world’s top 10
- World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, reigning champion Jasmine Paolini, and five-time Grand Slam winner Iga Swiatek in star-studded lineup
DUBAI: World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, five-time Grand Slam winner Iga Swiatek, and reigning Dubai champion Jasmine Paolini lead a star-studded lineup featuring the world’s top 10 WTA players in the 25th anniversary Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships’ women’s tournament.
In an incredible year for Paolini, she has tied the record for the highest-ranked Italian woman in WTA rankings history, with the World No. 4 winning her second career title in Dubai, finishing runner-up at Roland Garros and Wimbledon, and then triumphing in doubles at the Paris Olympics and in Malaga.
Sabalenka, meanwhile, was recently voted WTA Player of the Year for the first time after winning four titles in 2024, including a second Australian Open and maiden US Open triumph. That form allowed her to reclaim the top ranking from Swiatek, who was beaten in straight sets by World No. 3 Coco Gauff in Saudi Arabia’s season-ending tournament.
“The tournament’s elevation to permanent WTA 1000 status last year underlines the caliber of talent this competition consistently attracts … with the world’s top 10 players now confirmed to participate,” said Ramesh Cidambi, managing director of Dubai Duty Free and chairman of the tournament’s organizing committee.
Another former Dubai champion, Barbora Krejcikova, will feature at the WTA 1000 tournament, as well as World No. 5 Qinwen Zheng, who made history by winning China’s first tennis singles gold medal at the Paris Olympics this year.
Daria Kasatkina, a finalist in Dubai in 2018, and Jessica Pegula, a semi-finalist here in 2023, will also compete at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium.
Meanwhile, a strong men’s lineup is primed for the 33rd edition of the ATP Tour event.
‘Zero communication,’ says Gillespie opening up on Pakistan exit
- Jason Gillespie was appointed Pakistan’s Test coach in April for two years but differences with the Pakistan Cricket Board took their toll
- The 49-year-old former Australian pacer said he was not informed of decision to remove performance coach Tim Nielsen, also an Australian
BRISBANE: Jason Gillespie said Monday he felt no longer wanted as Pakistan’s Test coach and was left out of major decisions, having quit the post last week.
The 49-year-old Australian former fast bowler was appointed in April for two years but differences with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) took their toll.
Gillespie said he was not informed of the decision to remove performance coach Tim Nielsen, also an Australian.
“Nielsen was told his services were no longer required and I had zero communication from anyone and that was the moment I thought: well, I’m not really sure they actually want me to do this job,” Gillespie told Australian broadcaster ABC in Brisbane.
He added: “For a decision to then be made (about Nielsen) and the head coach doesn’t get a text message, phone call or email about a decision that’s a pretty big decision.
“It just left me thinking well I’m really not sure if the PCB wants me.”
The PCB accepted Gillespie’s resignation, the second in two months after former South Africa opener Gary Kirsten quit as white-ball coach over differences with selectors.
Gillespie had the worst possible start to his coaching stint when Pakistan were whitewashed 2-0 by Bangladesh.
That was followed by an innings defeat against England in the first Test in Multan.
The defeat prompted the PCB to make sweeping changes, removing Gillespie from the selection panel and dropping star players Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah.
Pakistan won the remaining two Tests to seal the series 2-1.
Gillespie refused to join the team for the two-Test series in South Africa starting in Centurion from December 26.
Gillespie said he was upset over the reduction of his role.
“In essence I was basically hitting catches and that was about it on the morning of a game,” he told ABC.
“You want to be able to have clear communication with all stakeholders, including selectors and knowing what the team is as head coach at least a day before the game so you can help plan and prepare the players.”
The exits of Gillespie and Kirsten means Pakistan have now had seven different coaches across formats in the last three years.
How Saudi Arabia’s World Cup will reverberate across Asian football
- The 2034 edition will the third time that football’s global showpiece will be held by Asia, after Japan-Korea 2002 and Qatar 2022
AUSTRALIA: As the party continues across Saudi Arabia after last week’s historic awarding of the FIFA World Cup 2034 to the Kingdom, the win is also being felt across the wider Asian Football Confederation.
The event in 2034 will mark just the third time football’s global showpiece will be held on Asian shores, after Japan-Korea 2002 and Qatar 2022, and will again focus the world’s attention on the best that Asian football has to offer.
The AFC’s president, Bahrain’s Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al-Khalifa, was the first to congratulate the new hosts. “This is a momentous occasion for Saudi Arabia, the AFC, and the whole of Asia,” he said.
“Saudi Arabia’s successful bid is a testament to the Kingdom’s vision, commitment, and passion for football. We have full confidence in their ability to host an extraordinary FIFA World Cup that will leave a lasting legacy for the sport in Asia and beyond.
“The AFC is committed to working closely with the Saudi Arabian Football Federation and FIFA to ensure the successful delivery of the FIFA World Cup 2034. Together, we will create an unforgettable experience for football fans around the globe.
“This historic achievement marks a new chapter for Asian football. With Saudi Arabia hosting the FIFA World Cup in 2034, we are confident that Asia will continue to play a leading role on the global stage.”
Rhysh Roshan Rai, a former Singapore footballer and now commentator, having covered some of Asian football’s biggest moments, including the AFC Asian Cup, AFC Champions League and Asian Qualifiers, is excited about the possible developmental benefits for the region.
“Asia is huge and diverse, so it’s hard to speak for everyone, but I’m sure it’s exciting for fans in that part of the continent,” he told Arab News.
“Being given the opportunity to host a massive event like that. They’re big football fans in Saudi Arabia and very passionate about the game.
“Speaking for myself, as a fan of Asian football, I’m looking forward to it and hopefully it’ll be something that can benefit the game in Asia.”
These comments are echoed by Dejan Damjanovic, the all-time leading scorer in the AFC Champions League.
The 43-year-old, who retired from football last year after a glittering 25-year career, is best known for his time in Korea with FC Seoul.
He holds the record for the most goals in the AFC Champions League with 42, five more than Korea’s Lee Dong-gook and 10 more than Saudi Arabia’s Nasser Al-Shamrani.
“I think it’s going to be amazing,” said Damjanovic, who enjoyed a six-month loan spell with Al-Ahli in 2006.
“Everyone knows how much Saudi invested in the last couple of years and how much they will invest in the coming years. I am sure they will make it an unbelievable World Cup.
“I think this is going to be (an) amazing promotion of Saudi Arabia and the Middle East in general.”
It may only have been six months that Damjanovic spent in Saudi Arabia, at a different time in the Kingdom’s football development, but it clearly left an impact on him and the fans.
“I was just on loan there, and now when I look back I am really sorry that I didn’t stay longer,” he said.
“When I came back in 2013 (for the AFC Champions League quarterfinal) after six or seven years, still the fans welcomed me really nicely and the game was unbelievable.
“It’s really nice memories, and when I am with friends I am always speaking about (it). It’s really nice to have so many nice memories from ACL.”
Meanwhile, Roshan Rai was in the Kingdom in October to commentate on Saudi Arabia’s 0-0 draw with Bahrain, in what proved to be the last game of the Roberto Mancini era.
Having experienced firsthand the passion of the Saudi fans, not to mention the hospitality of the locals, the 39-year-old was left in no doubt about Saudi Arabia’s capacity to host the world’s biggest sporting event.
“They will be great hosts,” he said. “They’ve already been moving towards opening up the country for a while now and hosting big sporting and other events.
“They have the infrastructure in place and certainly have the resources to build on and improve on anything required to ensure that they can be the best host possible.
“From my own experiences there, the people have been warm, friendly and welcoming. I believe that will be the case as well once the World Cup comes around.”
He also spoke about the impact of hosting the World Cup. “Obviously in a football sense there are benefits … businesswise and so on there will be benefits.
“But from a human perspective there will also be a benefit to this. People might sometimes perceive things about certain places around the world. Stereotypes help us make sense of our world so it’s normal but it helps to challenge those stereotypes at times.
“I’ve been lucky enough to travel across the continent and world and have met with people from different cultures and backgrounds. There are many things in common that we have and also differences to celebrate, respect, discuss.
“There will be analysis and coverage of this event for a long time to come and that will put things under the spotlight and on the table for discussion, to work on things that need to be worked on by all parties.
“There is no perfect place on this planet, but an open mind and a willingness to learn about each other will go a long way towards our development as a species.”
Green Falcons continue training camp for Arabian Gulf Cup
- National team will have a friendly match against Trinidad and Tobago on Tuesday
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s national football team continued their training camp on Sunday here in preparation for the 26th Arabian Gulf Cup in Kuwait from Dec. 21 to Jan. 3.
The Green Falcons had an evening training session at Al-Shabab Club Stadium under the supervision of head coach Herve Renard. The session began with warm-up exercises, followed by possession training.
Renard introduced various tactical exercises before organizing a full-pitch match divided into two groups. The training session concluded with recovery exercises. Another session was held later in the evening.
Meanwhile, player Firas Al-Buraikan continued his individual training with the medical staff, while duo Abdullah Al-Khaibari and Abdulelah Al-Amari were limited to special exercises alongside the medical team.
The Green Falcons will conclude their preparations on Monday with a training session at 4 p.m. at Al-Shabab Club Stadium, ahead of their friendly match against Trinidad and Tobago on Tuesday. The first 15 minutes of the session will be open to the media.
Renard will hold a press conference on Monday at 3 p.m. at Al-Shabab Club Stadium to discuss the team’s preparations.
Al-Ain and Sharjah Self-Defence crowned champions of inaugural Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship
- Fifth and final round of event was held at Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala Arena over the weekend
ABU DHABI: The inaugural edition of the Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship ended at Mubadala Arena in Abu Dhabi on Sunday with Al-Ain Jiu-Jitsu Club crowned champions in the Gi division, while Sharjah Self-Defence Sports Club won the No-Gi division.
The championship featured five rounds from Dec. 13 to 15 held across various locations in the UAE this year. This includes three rounds for the Gi category and two for the No-Gi category in several age groups.
The Kids and Under-16 categories took place on the final day, with Al-Ain Jiu-Jitsu Club continuing their earlier dominance to emerge victorious. Sharjah Self-Defence Sports Club secured second in the overall Gi ranking, while Baniyas Jiu-Jitsu Club earned third.
In the No-Gi division, Sharjah Self-Defence Sports Club took the title, MOD Academy second, and Al-Ain Jiu-Jitsu Club third.
Mohamed Salem Al-Dhaheri, vice chairman of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, said: “We are proud of the tremendous success achieved by the Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship over its five rounds.
“It has become a leading platform showcasing the growth of jiu-jitsu in the UAE. This championship reflects our commitment to fostering a culture of excellence, developing local talent, and providing a high-level competitive environment that unites athletes and clubs nationwide.”
“On this final day, we celebrate our champions, who have embodied the values of the sport,” he added. “Looking ahead, we remain steadfast in our mission to elevate jiu-jitsu and support our athletes in reaching greater heights.”
Ahmed Saeed Ali Jarwan, president of Sharjah Self-Defence Sports Club’s board of directors, commended the team’s athletes for securing the No-Gi category and dedicated the achievement to the Ruler of Sharjah Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al-Qasimi.
“This milestone reflects the insightful vision and unwavering support of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, which has been pivotal in shaping the club’s legacy of sustainable achievements.
“The players’ technical excellence and the dedication of their coaches have been instrumental in this accomplishment,” Jarwan said.
Mansour Al-Hashemi, chairman of the Sports Games Co. at Al-Ain Club, said: “We are incredibly proud to claim the Gi championship title in a competition that carries a name close (to) our hearts.”
He added: “This achievement is the result of rigorous training and commitment, supported by the wise leadership’s vision to empower jiu-jitsu athletes to excel locally and internationally.”
