Do you still remember the Mamba challenge initiated by Kobe?

In the summer of 2017, after retirement, Kobe launched a special "Mamba challenge" on Twitter. He named young players in the league and set goals for them. Some were asked to enter the All-Stars, some were asked to enter the All-Defensive Team. Antetokounmpo posted a news and wrote: Kobe, I am still waiting for my challenge. Kobe left only three letters: MVP.

When I saw it, I thought it was a bit unfair. I thought it was Nike's marketing. At that time, Antetokounmpo, who had just finished the 16-17 season, averaged 22.9 points, 8.8 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game. He just won the seventh place in the fastest-progressive player and MVP vote. He was selected as the All-Star for the first time and averaged 20+ per game for the first time. He was just a young man on the edge of the All-Star. He seemed out of reach for the "MVP". But he kept this sentence in his heart. Two years later, he fulfilled his challenge. In the 2018-19 season, Antetokounmpo exploded in full swing! Average of 27.7 points, 12.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 1.5 blocks and 1.3 steals per game, with a shooting percentage of 57.8%. He led the Bucks to win the league's first record of 60 wins and 22 losses. In the end, he beat Harden, who averaged 36.1 points per game and won his first regular season MVP in his career.

A year later, he reached the top again! Average of 29.5 points, 13.6 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.0 blocks per game, with a shooting percentage of 55.3%, and a PER of 31.9, which is also a very high-order value in history. The Bucks have 56 wins and 17 losses, and are once again ranked first in the league. This season, he not only won the MVP for the rest of his life, but also was elected the best defensive player, becoming the third player in history to win MVP+DPOY in the same year after Jordan and Olajuwon.

After Antetokounmpo won the MVP, Kobe assigned an entries to Antetokounmpo - the championship. In the 2021 finals, Antetokounmpo took Mamba's challenge to the highest stage. Facing the Suns, he averaged 35.2 points, 13.2 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game. The key G6 scored 50 points, winning the championship and FMVP in the most domineering way. He completed Kobe's additional "champion" challenge in the most perfect way.

When Antetokounmpo has won the MVP and the team has also won the best record in the league, it is not surprising that it is quite realistic and has a chance. But I really didn't expect the MVP mission at that time.

From the three simple letters on Twitter, to the MVP, to the championship, Antetokounmpo fulfilled his promise with practical actions. Unfortunately, that year, Kobe was gone. He failed to witness the moment when the "disciple" fulfilled his promise. , but the Mamba spirit has long been continued in him. Sometimes, greatness is passed down in this way.