Looking back at the 2021 NBA Finals, I still get chills remembering how Giannis Antetokounmpo carried the Milwaukee Bucks to their first championship in fifty years. That series wasn’t just basketball—it felt like a cinematic comeback story, packed with drama, resilience, and unforgettable individual performances. I’ve rewatched the highlights more times than I care to admit, and each time, I notice something new about the strategy, the momentum shifts, and the sheer willpower on display. Let me walk you through what made this Finals so special, from the key moments to the tactical choices that sealed the deal for Milwaukee.
Game 1 set the tone, with the Phoenix Suns stealing a 118-105 victory at home thanks to Devin Booker’s 27 points and Chris Paul’s near-perfect orchestration. Honestly, I thought the Suns were going to run away with it after that—they looked so polished, so in sync. But then Giannis dropped 42 points in Game 2, even in a losing effort, and you could feel the series tilting. The Bucks were figuring things out, adjusting their defense, and by Game 3, they’d found their rhythm. That 120-100 blowout in Milwaukee was a statement: they weren’t going down without a fight. What stood out to me was how the Bucks managed their roster, almost echoing that quote about selecting what you truly need—"Mapipili ko yung kailangan talaga." In this case, Milwaukee’s coaching staff made crucial picks, leaning heavily on their inside presence with Giannis while gradually integrating outside threats like Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton. It was a masterclass in balancing personnel, something I’ve seen championship teams do time and again.
The real turning point, in my view, was Game 4. Down 2-1, the Bucks clawed back with a 109-103 win, and Giannis’s block on Deandre Ayton late in the game might just be one of the greatest defensive plays in Finals history. I remember jumping out of my seat when it happened—it was that electrifying. From there, the momentum fully shifted. Game 5 saw Middleton explode for 29 points, and Holiday’s defense on Paul was relentless. By Game 6, the Bucks had all the pieces in place: dominant inside scoring, timely outside shooting, and a defensive intensity that suffocated the Suns. They closed it out with a 105-98 victory, and Giannis poured in 50 points, a performance for the ages. Stat-wise, he averaged 35.2 points, 13.2 rebounds, and 5.0 assists for the series—numbers that easily secured his Finals MVP.
Reflecting on it now, the 2021 Finals taught me a lot about team construction and in-series adjustments. The Bucks’ approach reminded me of that idea of choosing what’s essential—"Kailangan na lang namin, sa ngayon, isang outside at isang middle siguro." They prioritized their strengths but didn’t hesitate to adapt, blending inside dominance with just enough perimeter play to keep Phoenix guessing. It’s why I believe this series will be studied for years, not just for the individual brilliance but for how a team can evolve under pressure. If you haven’t revisited those games lately, I’d highly recommend it; there’s a richness there that goes beyond the stats and the trophy lift.
People in Motion (PiM) is our employee advocacy and improvement program. These cross-functional groups are comprised of employees, with an executive sponsor, who contribute ideas and drive action towards focused areas of improvement across the employee experience. The groups include: Kyruus Kontext & Business Readiness; Community, Connectivity, & Engagement; System, Tools, & Productivity; IDEA [Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility].
As a remote-first company, we are invested in employees creating a work setup that allows them to do their best work. In addition to a laptop, we also provide you with $750 to get the additional equipment you need and add an ongoing amount of $1,200 to your salary to cover remote work costs.
We value ownership at Kyruus Health, not only in the work you do but in the shared financial success from our growth. Employees will have the opportunity to grow their equity ownership throughout their tenure.
We care about creating the time you need to bond for any team members at Kyruus Health growing their families. We offer 8 weeks of fully paid leave to all parents. Birthing parents are also eligible for additional time and coverage through our Short-Term Disability plan.
We encourage all employees to save for retirement through our 401(K) plan. Employees have the option to begin contributing to their accounts on their first day of employment and we offer an employer match of up to $1,500 per calendar year for all employees who enroll.
We offer employees a lifestyle stipend of $2,000 per year to help them be well. This is designed for Kyruus Health to offset the cost for items, experiences, or home expenses that enhance team members’ well-being
We want to provide employees and families with health insurance offerings to support them getting the care they need. Our health, dental, and vision plans are desiged to allow employees the opportunity to choose options that work best for themselves and their families.
We are committed to flexibility and empowering employees to do work that matters in a way that works for them. Our unlimited PTO policy is anchored on that flexibility – encouraging employees to take time off for what’s important to them, in addition to the many company holidays we celebrate. To highlight our commitment to a healthy work-life balance, we provide a specific stipend each quarter for employees to use on a recharge day.
