NBA Finals: An unlikely matchup will give birth to new stars
An unlikely NBA Finals matchup will give the Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns the opportunity to birth new stars.
At the beginning of the playoffs, I’m not sure anyone would’ve penciled in the Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns in the NBA Finals. However, after much perseverance, these two teams have risen above the rest for a chance at winning an NBA championship.
For the Bucks, they haven’t won an NBA championship (or made the Finals) since the ’70s and the Suns have yet to win a championship in their franchise’s history. Phoenix did make the Finals in 1993, however.
Nevertheless, an unlikely matchup in the Finals between the Bucks and Suns will provide not only much theater but the opportunity for new stars to arise.
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For the general casual NBA fan, even despite this playoff run by both teams, there’s probably a good chance that there are three or four household names on these two rosters combined. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Devin Booker, and Chris Paul are likely the names that most will know heading into this series – but even Booker isn’t a ubiquitous name around casual basketball circles just yet.
Which Milwaukee Bucks ‘other’ star will rise?
Even Khris Middleton has been arguably the most important player on the Bucks this postseason, he’s not a superstar and not one that echoes around basketball talk.
But the NBA Finals will give him the opportunity to change that narrative. The stage is set for him to rise and emerge as a true – and worthy – option next to Giannis. Milwaukee’s third star, Jrue Holiday, will also get his much due respect in the Finals.
Holiday, who has consistently been one of the most undervalued players in the league, will have an opportunity to make a mark. He’ll have a chance to etch his name in the record books and be forever associated as a champion – if the Bucks can get the job done.
Which Phoenix Suns ‘other’ star will rise?
For the Suns, Booker is the player that will likely become cemented as a superstar if he can continue to play at the level he’s been playing at in the playoffs thus far. For many, Booker has a lot of Kobe Bryant in him – the way he can contort his body, scoring in bunches, and hit a myriad of difficult shots.
Paul will be Paul and will have the opportunity to cement his legacy as arguably the best point guard to ever play the game with a championship, something that has eluded him throughout his illustrious and accomplished career thus far.
A third player that will have the opportunity to present himself to the rest of the league is Deandre Ayton, who has had his ups and downs throughout his young career. Though, he has shined throughout the playoffs.
Heading into an unlikely NBA Finals matchup, one we couldn’t have envisioned at the beginning of this season, there will be an opportunity for new stars to rise. Question is, which will rise to the occasion in the Finals?