The Bulls have won just three playoff games in the last seven seasons, but they’re still viewed as a marquee franchise and a desirable landing spot by Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Highlighting the organization’s six championships and the hugely successful career that Michael Jordan enjoyed in Chicago, Antetokounmpo praised the Bulls during an appearance on The Sports Zone on Fox 32 Chicago (video link) when asked about someday playing for the club.
“I think anybody you ask that question that plays basketball, if he said no, he would be a liar,” Antetokounmpo said. “It’s a team that won multiple championships; it’s a team that one of the greatest players, if not the greatest player who ever played this game, played for. So it’s a no-brainer. Everybody would love to play for Chicago.”
Giannis is under contract with the Bucks for three more seasons, with a player option for a fourth year, and has shown no inclination to leave Milwaukee. But the two-time MVP drove his point about the Bulls home by suggesting that he wouldn’t close the door on one day playing in Chicago himself.
“Down the line, you never know. You never know how life brings it, maybe I play for Chicago,” Antetokounmpo said. “But right now I’m committed to Milwaukee.”
The Bulls have been a major player in free agency over the last two summers. After landing forward DeMar DeRozan and guard Lonzo Ball in blockbuster sign-and-trade deals a year ago, the team locked up Zach LaVine this offseason to a five-year, $215MM contract, the richest deal in franchise history.
this is so random & out the blue. start the rumor mill :))
This is sorta like when Kobe was in Europe & told European reporters that he’d love to play in the Euroleague one day lol nothing wrong with endearing yourself to the locals but probably not ever gonna happen
Gianas is SUCH a JOKE for this
Giannis, you are supposed to say that you want to give MIL a similar history so that players will want to come there to play because the GOAT Giannis Antetokounmpo played there.
Not.
When he is 34 years old I would be in favor of trading him to the Bulls for an “historic haul” of talent and draft picks.
The Bulls have never in their history had an “historic haul of talent and draft picks”, so you’re out of luck there. Nor would they ever commit to a player past his prime without talent or picks to fill out the roster. Their owner is a bean counter who values profits over rings.
Sure, everybody would “love” to play for Chicago. The problem is nobody wants to play for Jerry Reinsdorf. How he’s operated the organization before, and after Michael played there is a disgrace.
You could at least be in the same decade. You’re living in the past.
The Bulls have been the hottest ticket in the NBA for decades, and they couldn’t get one All-Star caliber player to come there willingly.
Demar? Wade, Boozer. All came willingly and are all all-stars. And those are just a few examples. Get out of her ya stroke.
Demar was traded to the Bulls. Boozer was never a top tier player, and Wade was past his prime. He merely came to get his last big contract and recruit Butler. His time with the Bulls was a disaster.
Hardly a disgrace, ChiSox. You’re like every employee of every company who knew how to do things better than the boss.
A few names out there that have flirted with going to the Bulls (Kobe, Melo) and a few former All Stars that have signed with the Bulls (DeRozan, past his prime Wade, past his prime Ben Wallace, past his prime Rondo), but outside that, the Bulls are not a destination team. I’ve lived here for over 25 years. No bigger star that could go to LA or Miami or anywhere warmer than Chicago during winter (which is like anywhere not Minneapolis or Milwaukee) is coming to Chicago unless the Bulls get a huge star through the draft as an anchor. Until then, the Bulls are just kind of forced to go through the draft and give max contracts out to smaller stars.
Don’t forget Rip Hamilton and Pau Gasol, also pretty much past their primes, each only with a good couple seasons left in the tank…lol
There was that Boozer fellow though..lol
Yes! Oops! I forgot them too. All good examples.
I love how no one takes this seriously now when before he signed the supermax and won a title, this would have made people go nuts. Dude isn’t leaving Milwaukee ever.
I don’t know about that Giannis, LBJ played for Cleveland, won a championship there and is one of the greatest if not the greatest player of all time but I don’t think all that many players would choose to go there.
Besides Giannt plays the Bucks and they’ve won two championships and have had three of the greatest players of all time play there and win a championship including Giannis himself.
Your Lebron logic is off because for 1, it’s Cleveland, and 2, he isn’t the greatest player of all time. Thought this was cleared up this last summer when almost EVERY person who is associated with basketball came out and said there is absolutely no one better than MJ. They also all came out and said that most people in the business don’t consider Lebron number 2. Top 5, maybe, but being 1-4 includes their entire package – heart, likability, respect, legacy, and Mistique. Lebron is one of the most hated athletes ever, not respected by in and out of business because of what he says(which is way too much) and how he says it. Also, his heart wouldn’t even be top 20 ever. He can’t win a championship by being the last to take the shots and won’t play every single game always when healthy. Jordan, and Kobe would play in a pickup game if near one. Last year, he lost even more respect from everyone when even though healthy, he chose not to play with his team in the final games because he did not want to lose his scoring avg title. That’s weak, and even lebron lovers have to call that out.
1. There’s nothing wrong with Cleveland.
2. No one knows why Lebron sat down.
3. Every basketball fan that respects the game is sick of his mouth and his winning by stacking teams.
4. He is not in the top 5 of all-time NBA players; very possibly not on the top 10. To start, Giannis is better than him and will end up having a better career.
– LeBron sitting caused him to be ineligible to win the title
So your 180 degrees off there
Your post is weak
And people think Joel is a troll
I bet he’d say the same thing about the Knicks, Detroit, Lakers or Boston if asked by their respective sportswriters/casters.
This just seems like completely unnecessary people pleasing. And I’m sure there are guys who don’t have any desire to play there, regardless of the team or city’s history.