The Milwaukee Bucks were crowned 2024 Emirates NBA Cup Champions after a dominant 97-81 win over Oklahoma City Thunder at T-Mobile Arena in Vegas.

Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 26 points, 10 assists, and 16 rebounds in 37 minutes. Damian Lillard added 23 as the Bucks, who shot 42% from 3-point range, cruised past Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s Thunder.

The NBA had provided the winning team with coolers full of champagne and other drinks as well as safety goggles for the anticipated champagne dousing.

The whole setup was left untouched as the Bucks chose to forgo the celebration with champagne provided by the NBA after winning the Emirates NBA Cup.

Giannis expressed postgame that the team’s focus shifts quickly to the remaining regular season games, as the team still has a lot to improve on.

“Jobs not done; we have a lot of basketball in front of us. We have a lot of things that we have to improve; we are going to improve, and we are going to stay locked in because the job’s not done,” said Antetokounmpo

Bucks head coach Doc Rivers told senior NBA reporter Chris Hayes the decision was advised by his assistant coach Darwin Ham, who won the Emirates Cup last season in his previous job as the Lakers head coach.

“Bucks coach Doc Rivers told me after talking with Darwin Ham and his experience with the Lakers last season, they chose not to celebrate the Cup championship with dousing and drinking of champagne. Want to focus on the remainder of the season.” per Chris Hayes

Last season, after the Lakers won the in-season tournament, they went on to finish eighth in the conference and later bounced in the first round of the playoffs.

It is clear that despite the monetary incentives of the in-season tournament, the Larry O’Brien remains the ultimate goal for players and coaches alike.

Each player from the winning team receives $500,000 in prize money, while the runners-up get $200,000.