Giannis Antetokounmpo has been the face of the Milwaukee Bucks since they drafted him in 2013. You might remember Antetokounmpo steering the Bucks to their first NBA title in 50 years in 2021, dropping 50 points in the finals against the Phoenix Suns.
But now speculation is abound that the defensive anchor of the Bucks is all set to move somewhere else. One NBA analyst has pointed out that Antetokounmpo’s desire to add another NBA championship to his résumé might lead him to another team.
ESPN’s Shams Charania Thinks Giannis Antetokounmpo Might Leave the Bucks
NBA insider Shams Charania recently shed light on the situation, emphasizing that while Antetokounmpo has been loyal, his top priority is winning. If the Bucks can’t sustain long-term success, Antetokounmpo may have to make a tough decision.
“Everyone knows Giannis Antetokounmpo loves the Bucks, but I’m here to tell you, he loves winning more,” Charania said. “That’s why everyone in that Bucks organization knows what’s at stake: the pressure.”
Charania also pointed out that every offseason, Antetokounmpo evaluates the Bucks’ roster to see if they can continue competing at a high level. If he ever feels that the team is no longer capable of delivering championships, he wouldn’t hesitate to explore other options.
“Every summer, when Giannis looks around and looks at the Bucks’ roster, he looks at sustained, long-term winning and where he would be able to find that,” Charania added. “And he has said audibly on the record that if he feels like that’s not attainable anymore in Milwaukee, he will look elsewhere. But, of course, he has always tried to make everything work in Milwaukee.”
What Are Antetokounmpo’s Thoughts on Leaving the Bucks?
Antetokounmpo is one of the best two-way players in the NBA at the moment, and as such, if he ever decided to leave the Bucks, plenty of teams would be eager to add him to their roster.
According to Spotrac, his three-year contract extension deal also includes a player option in the final year, meaning he could become a free agent and explore other opportunities if he chooses. However, despite the constant speculation, Antetokounmpo has shown no signs of wanting out, at least for now.
In an interview with COSMOTE TV during All-Star Weekend, Antetokounmpo was asked how he would react if the Bucks ever decided to move on from him, to which Antetokounmpo humorously responded. The Greek Freak emphasized he isn’t someone who demands trades — he’ll stay until the team no longer wants him.
“If I get a text from my general manager [Jon Horst], I will share the news with my family, and I’ll go do my job. I’m getting paid good money to do this job. I would go anywhere I feel they need me,” he said, per a translation by Eurohoops. “I’m not a guy who’s going to ask for a trade; they should kick me out.”
At the moment, Antetokounmpo moving to another team remains pure speculation. However, the Bucks are in the midst of a four-year championship drought, and if things don’t change, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the nine-time NBA All-Star finally walk away from the team he has been loyally serving for 12 years now.
