After his most recent 50-point performance in the Milwaukee Bucks’ 106-105 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers, Giannis Antetokounmpo made light of the fact that he would be celebrating with “50 cheeseburgers.”
The Bucks overcame a 21-point deficit to win their sixth straight game on Thursday as the two-time MVP scored 20 of his 54 points in the fourth quarter.
After scoring a career-high 55 points against the Washington Wizards and 50 points against the New Orleans Pelicans, he has now scored 50 points three times in his last 11 games.
When the Bucks won their first championship in 50 years in 2021, Antetokounmpo was seen ordering 50 chicken nuggets, and he now intends to follow suit.
“I think I’m going to go to Culver’s tomorrow,” he said. “I’ll go get 50 cheeseburgers and try to eat as many as I can. The rest, I’ll have my son eat them or I give them to my dog.”
Antetokounmpo also had 18 rebounds against the Clippers as he continued his remarkable form since returning from injury last month.
The 28-year-old has helped the Bucks to a 6-0 record in that period, averaging 40.2 points per game, 14.7 rebounds per game and four assists per game.
He is the first NBA player to average 40/12/4 while going undefeated over a six-game span since Wilt Chamberlain did so in January 1964.
And Antetokounmpo has also joined Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the only players in Bucks’ history to have at least three 50-point games in a single season.
“It’s a great compliment to be up there with Kareem,” Antetokounmpo said. “I never thought I was going to score 50 in the NBA when I got drafted. It’s an insane, crazy journey.”
Antetokounmpo has now averaged 32.3 points per game across 41 appearances this season, a tally bettered only by Luka Doncic (33.4) and Joel Embiid (33.5).
“He’s relentless,” Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said after his side’s comeback win over the Clippers.
“He’s going to put himself in position to help us win. Whatever it takes for us to win, he’s going to do it. He’s fearless and relentless. That’s what you saw going down the stretch.