Giannis Antetokounmpo

The 26-year old Serbian international Nikola Jokic on Tuesday was given the coveted Most Valuable Player, MVP, award by the US National Basketball Association league, the world's premier men's basketball league.

Atlanta – Luka Dončić appeared in the NBA All-Star Game as a starter for a second time in his career in Atlanta on Sunday, having become the third pick of LeBron James, the team captain for the Western Conference.

NBA basketball star Giannis Antetokounmpo has appeared in a commercial in his native Greece, released ahead of Christmas to urge people to observe public safety measures during the pandemic.

"All victories start with defense," the Milwaukee Bucks star said, speaking in Greek in the minute-long spot edited in black and white.

Milwaukee's Hoan Bridge was lit blue-and-white, the colors of the Greek flag, for a few hours on Tuesday evening in celebration of Giannis Antetokounmpo's signing a five-year supermax extension with the local NBA team, the Milwaukee Bucks.

Giannis Antetokounmpo said he appreciated the love the city of Milwaukee has shown him ever since his arrival as an 18-year-old rookie from Greece.

So the reigning two-time MVP decided to show his loyalty to the place where he's spent his entire NBA career.

Giannis Antetokounmpo has agreed to a supermax extension with the Milwaukee Bucks that takes the two-time reigning MVP off next summer's free-agent market.

Giannis Antetokounmpo says he's staying with the Milwaukee Bucks for at least five more seasons. "I'm blessed to be a part of the Milwaukee Bucks for the next 5 years," the two-time reigning MVP posted Tuesday on his social media platforms.

"I'm blessed to be a part of the Milwaukee Bucks for the next 5 years," the two-time reigning MVP posted Tuesday on his social media platforms.

Anxiety in Milwaukee over Giannis Antetokounmpo staying with the Bucks beyond this season continues to rise. The NBA MVP said Wednesday he has locked in on the 2020 season, not his much-discussed future.

"Right now, I am not focused on that," Antetokounmpo said Wednesday. "I am just trying to focus on myself."

Giannis Antetokounmpo was ejected in the second quarter for head-butting Moritz Wagner on Tuesday night, but the Milwaukee Bucks still posted a 126-113 victory over the Washington Wizards in the NBA bubble near Orlando.

The incident occurred near the Milwaukee hoop after Antetokounmpo was whistled for a charging foul for running into the Washington center.

NCAA legendary coach Rick Pitino, who has a contract with the Greek national team, said in two interviews this weekend he is ready to fly to Greece to coach Panathinaikos if the 2019-2020 Euroleague continues this summer. He also reiterated his will to coach Greece.