Giannis Antetokounmpo Says He Wants To Remain With Milwaukee Bucks Amid NBA Trade Rumors
During an interview with Jim Owczarski of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, NBA legend Giannis Antetokounmpo said he wants to remain with the Milwaukee Bucks.
Multiple reports have stated that Antetokounmpo and the Bucks could part ways this season, but Antetokounmpo told Owczarski that he wants to stay with Milwaukee.
“If you ask me what do I really want, deep down in my heart? I want to be a Milwaukee Buck until I retire and win a championship here,” Antetokounmpo said. “End of sentence. If that is not possible to happen, and if then you realize maybe that’s not the case and maybe they’re looking elsewhere and that’s not what they’re trying to do, then automatically you have to be in the plans of what they’re trying to do or weigh the other options. It’s normal.”
Antetokounmpo led the Bucks to the 2021 NBA championship against the Phoenix Suns. However, Milwaukee has lost in the first round of the playoffs for three consecutive years.
A future Hall of Famer, Antetokounmpo has been linked to the Miami Heat, New York Knicks, Minnesota Timberwolves and Golden State Warriors in trade rumors. The superstar forward doesn’t have a no-trade clause in his contract.
“What I want deep down in my heart is I want to be a Milwaukee Buck for the rest of my career and win here,” Antetokounmpo said. “I’ve spent more time in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, than in my country. I’ve created more memories in this city than in my country.
“My father is buried here. So tell me you, when I open the passport of my kids and it says born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, my dad is buried here, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. So people have the audacity to come tell me and say ‘this guy really doesn’t love Milwaukee.’ I don’t love Milwaukee? Not the people that know. The people of the city know how much I love them. This city has let me be myself, let me be father, have let me [be] a husband, have let me be my own, true, self.”
One of the greatest players in NBA history, Antetokounmpo is making $54.1 million this season. He has a player option worth $62.8 million for the 2027-28 season.
The 2026 NBA trade deadline is February 5 at 3 p.m. ET. It will be fascinating to see if Antetokounmpo gets traded by the Bucks.
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