By Jimmy Carlton Sportswriter Published Jun 29, 2017 at 3:01 PM Photography: David Bernacchi

Already the most beloved Bucks player in recent memory, Giannis Antetokounmpo apparently has become quite popular outside of Milwaukee, as well.

Following a historically great season, when he led the team to the playoffs, won the NBA’s Most Improved Player award and captivated the basketball world with his physical abilities and expressive charisma, Giannis Antetokounmpo now has one of the league’s most in-demand jerseys.

Antetokounmpo Euro step-leapt to No. 8 on the NBA’s Most Popular Jersey list, the Bucks announced on Thursday. It’s the Greek Freak’s highest ranking, one spot up from where he was in April and six spots higher than his debut ranking at No. 14 in January, which was the first time Milwaukee had a player in the top 15 in jersey sales since Gary Payton was 15th in December of 2003.

During a breakout 2016-17 season, Antetokounmpo  made the leap from potential-filled phenom to ascendant star. He helped the Bucks to their second playoff appearance in three years and first winning record (42-40) since 2010, while averaging career highs in points (22.9), rebounds (8.8), assists (5.4), blocks (1.9) and steals (1.6) per game. Antetokounmpo became Milwaukee’s first All-Star since 2004, and its first All-Star Game starter – as voted by fans – since 1986.

After becoming the first player in NBA history to finish a season ranked in the top 20 in total points, rebounds, assists, blocks and steals, Antetokounmpo earlier this week was named the league’s Most Improved Player – the franchise’s first winner of the award. He was also selected to the All-NBA Second Team and the All-Defensive Second Team.

Because of his determined, rags-to-riches backstory, affably fun-loving and fan-friendly personality, on-court competitiveness (see: post-highlight stink face) and transcendent basketball talent (see: soaring slam dunks), Antetokounmpo is adored in Milwaukee. During the Bucks’ playoff series against the Chicago Raptors, an exhausted Antetokounmpo was serenaded with home-crowd chants of "MVP! MVP!", which might turn out to be a true prediction in the coming years. Clearly, his No. 34 uniform is starting to become a national treasure, too.

Here is the top-selling NBA jersey list, from 1 to 10: Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors), LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers) Kevin Durant (Warriors), Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder), Kyrie Irving (Cavaliers), Kawhi Leonard (San Antonio Spurs), Isaiah Thomas (Boston Celtics), Antetokounmpo, James Harden (Houston Rockets), Klay Thompson (Warriors).

The league also announced on Thursday the top 10 Most Popular Team Merchandise list, and Milwaukee showed up on it, ranked No. 8 out of all 30 NBA teams. With a new arena and entertainment district going up Downtown, savvy branding and marketing initiatives all around town and an up-and-coming basketball team, the Bucks have generated lots of local excitement and optimism.

If you don’t already own enough cool Bucks apparel, you can buy some from now through July 9 at the team’s merchandise trailer at Summerfest, Milwaukee’s Pro Shop retail locations or by visiting bucks.com/proshop. 

Jimmy Carlton Sportswriter

Born in Milwaukee but a product of Shorewood High School (go ‘Hounds!) and Northwestern University (go ‘Cats!), Jimmy never knew the schoolboy bliss of cheering for a winning football, basketball or baseball team. So he ditched being a fan in order to cover sports professionally - occasionally objectively, always passionately. He's lived in Chicago, New York and Dallas, but now resides again in his beloved Brew City and is an ardent attacker of the notorious Milwaukee Inferiority Complex.

After interning at print publications like Birds and Blooms (official motto: "America's #1 backyard birding and gardening magazine!"), Sports Illustrated (unofficial motto: "Subscribe and save up to 90% off the cover price!") and The Dallas Morning News (a newspaper!), Jimmy worked for web outlets like CBSSports.com, where he was a Packers beat reporter, and FOX Sports Wisconsin, where he managed digital content. He's a proponent and frequent user of em dashes, parenthetical asides, descriptive appositives and, really, anything that makes his sentences longer and more needlessly complex.

Jimmy appreciates references to late '90s Brewers and Bucks players and is the curator of the unofficial John Jaha Hall of Fame. He also enjoys running, biking and soccer, but isn't too annoying about them. He writes about sports - both mainstream and unconventional - and non-sports, including history, music, food, art and even golf (just kidding!), and welcomes reader suggestions for off-the-beaten-path story ideas.