NBA Awards 2019: 3 reasons why Mike Budenholzer should win the Coach of the Year Award

#3 Huge contribution towards Antetokounmpo's surge to glory

Giannis went from being a great player to an unstoppable MVP finalist in just one year.

The All-Star weekend saw Coach Budenholzer at the helm of a team captained by his star player back in Milwaukee, the Greek Freak.

As was reported, Giannis was visibly upset by the franchise's decision of letting Jason Kidd go. But what he found in Mike was someone who could take him and his team to the next level at the speed of light, and so, Antetokounmpo embodied the challenge and the journey that came with it.

Under Coach Bud's tutelage, Giannis became arguably the most dominant player in the NBA, courtesy of the floor spacing by his team. During the season, he led the league in dunks and averaged a career-high 6 assists per game, along with attempting more threes than he ever had in his career.

"His ability to be flexible, to be creative, to build a relationship with our guys and really everyone in our organization has created this dynamic and this culture of togetherness and excitement and fun," Bucks general manager Jon Horst said. "You've got a superstar in Giannis that fits, I believe, a superstar coach in Mike Budenholzer."

Coach Bud ran the offense through Antetokounmpo and made sure he could shoot the ball from distance, as well as do his thing in the paint whenever needed. The 24-year-old Greek ended the season with career-high averages of 27.7 points and 12.5 rebounds.