Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks are expected to part ways this summer, per Sam Amick of The Athletic.
Antetokounmpo and the Bucks are no longer on the same page.
“Never mind that Giannis Antetokounmpo has a long and legendary reputation of playing through pain, or that the Bucks never seemed to take issue with that quality when it gave them a chance to win a championship. The team’s current stance — that he won’t be medically cleared to play despite the strong indications that he believes he’s good to go — is the clearest sign yet that these two parties are headed for a divorce in the summer,” Amick wrote.
“And whether the Bucks are trying to preserve his health for an eventual trade, improve their draft position, or both, the fact that this approach is directly at odds with Antetokounmpo’s desires speaks volumes about the state of affairs in this relationship.”
The Bucks have lost in the first round of the playoffs three years in a row. They have won just one playoff series since winning the 2021 championship against the Phoenix Suns.
Antetokounmpo has spent his entire NBA career with the Bucks. He’s a two-time MVP, one-time Finals MVP, one-time Defensive Player of the Year and 10-time All-Star. The superstar is currently out with a left knee hyperextension.
A top 75 player of all time, Antetokounmpo is eligible to sign a four-year, $275 million extension with the Bucks on October 1. If he declines the extension, Antetokounmpo will be traded, per Milwaukee co-owner Wes Edens.
“Giannis is going into the last year [of his contract],” Edens told ESPN. “So one of two things will happen: Either he will be extended or he’ll be traded. The likelihood you’ll let him just kind of play out the last year, we can’t afford that. It’s not consistent with what’s good for the organization. That’s not a Giannis issue. That’s any player that’s in their last year.”
Antetokounmpo prefers playing for an East Coast team since the East Coast is closer to Greece, according to Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report. Antetokounmpo’s wife and kids live in Greece.
It will be fascinating to see where Antetokounmpo is playing next season. He’s been linked to the Miami Heat, Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers, Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets and Minnesota Timberwolves.
Antetokounmpo holds career averages of 24.1 points, 9.9 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.2 blocks per game. He’s been in the NBA since 2013.
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