Source Close To Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo: ‘Always Got To Hold Ownership’s Feet To The Fire’
A source close to NBA superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks recently told Jamal Collier of ESPN, “Always got to hold ownership’s feet to the fire.”
Antetokounmpo thought about requesting a trade this offseason.
The Bucks lost to the Indiana Pacers in the first round of the 2025 playoffs in five games. Indiana also beat Milwaukee in the first round of the 2024 playoffs in six games.
Antetokounmpo guided the Bucks to the 2021 championship against the Phoenix Suns in six games. Since then, Milwaukee has won only one playoff series.
A future Hall of Famer, Antetokounmpo finished third in MVP voting last season. He averaged 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 0.9 steals and 1.2 blocks while shooting 60.1% from the field and made the All-NBA First Team.
The Bucks will only trade Antetokounmpo if he requests a trade. Antetokounmpo will make $54.1 million this season. He has a player option worth $62.8 million for the 2027-28 season.
Bucks general manager Jon Horst was very busy this offseason. The exec waived and stretched Damian Lillard, signed Myles Turner, Gary Harris, Amir Coffey, Cole Anthony and Thanasis Antetokounmpo and re-signed Bobby Portis, Kevin Porter Jr., Gary Trent Jr., Taurean Prince and Jericho Sims.
“This team is built to maximize Giannis, but Giannis can actually maximize this team,” Horst said. “We understand nothing’s been given to us. This is a team that is really hungry to earn whatever we get, and they want to deserve to win. That’s going to be our style of play, playing together, and that’s going to feature the best player in the world, Giannis, and a bunch of guys that fit him really, really well.”
Milwaukee and the New York Knicks discussed a potential Giannis Antetokounmpo trade, but the two sides didn’t get close to a deal.
If the Bucks don’t go on a deep playoff run this season, many people around the NBA expect Giannis Antetokounmpo to request a trade next offseason.
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