It has been an injury-plagued season for star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, who has appeared in just 36 of the Bucks‘ 68 games due to knee, groin, ankle, and calf issues and is currently sidelined due to a left knee hyperextension and bone bruise.
With just 14 games left in the regular season and Milwaukee now six-and-a-half games out of a play-in spot in the Eastern Conference, the Bucks have made it clear to Antetokounmpo that they believe it would be in both parties’ best interest to have him sit out the rest of the season and focus on getting healthy for 2026/27, reports Eric Nehm of The Athletic.
However, Antetokounmpo isn’t on board with the Bucks plan and has let the team know he wants to get back on the court immediately once he has recovered from his latest injury, according to Nehm.
Confirming Nehm’s reporting, Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter links) says there have been multiple meetings about Antetokounmpo’s status within the past 24 hours and that the two sides disagree about the best path forward. In an appearance on NBA Today (Twitter video link), Charania added that the 31-year-old has been “adamant” about his desire to return this season.
The Bucks must tread especially carefully with Antetokounmpo due to their desire to keep him happy in the hopes of reaching an agreement on a long-term extension with him when he becomes eligible this October. Milwaukee reportedly entertained trade offers for Giannis prior to last month’s deadline, but never came close to making a deal involving the two-time MVP, who didn’t request a trade and has repeatedly stated that his preference would be to stick with the Bucks if they have a roster capable of contending for another championship.
While they don’t want to upset their franchise player, the Bucks presumably recognize they have no path to a playoff spot this spring and would be better off sliding a little further down the lottery standings. They don’t technically control their own 2026 first-round pick, but the Bucks will receive the least favorable of their own selection and the Pelicans’ pick. At 28-40, Milwaukee remains several games ahead of New Orleans (23-46) in the standings, so even the least favorable of those two first-rounders should be a top-10 selection.
Of course, shutting down Antetokounmpo for the final few weeks of the season would also ensure that he gets a head-start on getting back to 100% health, whereas having him play in meaningless games in late March and early April would put him at risk of re-aggravating one of his previous injuries or suffering a more significant one.
Whether the Bucks plan to revisit trade talks involving their star forward or try to continue reshaping the roster around him during the offseason, having him fully healthy would be in the team’s best interest going forward.
Didn’t Giannis say recently he realizes he’s getting older now and needs to be a little more cautious and thoughtful regarding his health? So much for that.
Look, I admire his competitive spirit and dedication, especially when resting would be the easiest route to take. That said, those traits shouldn’t overrule reason and the fact of the matter is he has had a litany of lower body injuries this year and would now be coming off a knee issue. It’s also potentially better for the franchise if he rests (albeit slightly).
So as much as I deplore tanking, this is one of those circumstances where it is indeed prudent to shut things down and focus on next season.
Yep, it’s best for both the franchise and the player.
This is going to be a messy breakup this summer.
Messy AF
Astute hoop-knowers have been sounding the alarm bells about this right after the Bucks FO told the world with a straight face their “big 3” was going to be Giannis-Turner-Kuzma. Their roster is a disaster and it is a purposely-made one, as the FO wants Giannis to leave or ask to be traded. The Bucks owners got their ring and now wants to rebuild. I kept thinking they were going to get a bigger star like Kawhi at the deadline, and they did nothing. Because the owners do not want the team to win.
If Giannis wants to win, he is going to have to find a team who fits him and wants to win-now and on top of that satisfy the idiot Bucks FO’s trade return demands. GSW works, and is still the top suitor for Giannis. Tough but the obvious end to all of this, which I have been predicting for months would happen.
Miami*
@TunaNoCrust
GSW can offer more draft picks. Giannis might want to go to the Heat, and the Heat might want him, but the 3rd party is the Bucks, and they hold the cards. Miami is in the same conference as the Bucks too. If it came down to GSW vs MIA, I would guess they would take the team not in their conference.
Don’t act like players can’t dictate where they go. Teams don’t want to trade for players that won’t sign an extension with them especially if it will cost too many picks.
I know we’re just speculating but there are definitely multiple scenarios that can plausibly happen.
Giannis is the Aaron Rodgers of the NBA.
Absolutely not. Rodger’s a total creep.
Only kind of tanking he wants to do is his trade value apparently
*grabs popcorn*
I almost feel like this is the opposite. Like maybe he wants the chance to go into the off-season showing on the court that he’s healthy, while the bucks wouldn’t mind a potential cloud hanging over his health status, so they can point to “depressed” offers like “hey, we weren’t offered what we were willing to trade you for.”
Obv I’m just an outsider guessing and wondering wth is going on though.
To me it seems like he is letting his competitive spirit cloud his judgement. The rest of the roster is subpar to say the least, has been for a few seasons. He tries to drag them to the playoffs and even when he succeeded his body eventually didn’t hold up in the playoffs. Now this season he has had multiple absences due to injuries.
Coming back to play in meaningless games isn’t going to convince teams he is healthy. Plus rushing back greatly increases his chances of another injury.
Plus if he wants to stay it actually hurts the teams chances of having a better pick to use to build a better team with. Whether that be through keeping the pick or using it in trades.
Like sands thru the hourglass…..
You just gave me a great memory of being sick and staying home from school with my grandma when that used to come on lol
“Go ahead, but you have to make it sound like I was against it.”
Just because they can’t make the playoffs, doesn’t mean the games are “meaningless.” He wants to play basketball AND people pay money to see these games. They are not meaningless.
This feels like a PR effort to try and reinforce the image that Giannis is all about the team, but..they haven’t taken into account the fact that not a single person actually believes Giannis suiting up again this year is a good idea.
Not a single person? I believe it’s a great idea because Milwaukee needs to start winning some ball games and overtake the Warriors in the standings.
The Bucks are done – they’re 7 wins behind Charlotte in the standings.
Gotta let the season go.
My top 9 players in the NBA, currently (injury status rejected):
1. Jokic 2. Wemby 3. Giannis 4. SGA 5. Luka 6. Steph 7. Kawhi 8. Cade 9. Maxey
Didn’t wanna do 10 players cuz then you’d have to mention Jaylen Brown and he spanked the Warriors last night.
Bad faith reply, Tuna, be better, because I already PREDICTED that outcome in this thread:
link to hoopsrumors.com
You predicted you’d leave Jaylen Brown off your list? Crazy.
Brown is in the mix for sure, but so are a few others I couldn’t really split away from him. Ant-man, DM, KD, Barnes, etc.
Also, it’s not the Warriors without Steph. You know this.
Celtics are beating you with or without Steph in a 7 game series regardless.
you said the same thing in 2022
No I didn’t. I was worried about that Celtics team going up against a battle tested veteran team that knew how to win.
This warriors team isn’t even remotely close to that team.
The warriors best players have slide into and almost out of the twilight of their primes while the Celtics are only now coming into theirs.
2022 should have been closer than it was(7 games) but the Celtics weren’t ready. Now? LOL
ok fair take, i just wouldnt write the warriors off when they literally have not been able to put their healthiest roster on the court, even with or without jimmy, id wait and see how steph changes things with kp, dray, moody, gui etc
I haven’t written them off.
I’ve said what I’d want them to do if it was my time.
And I’ve said it’s unlikely they beat OKC.
I’ve also told you I want to see Steph get healthy because I enjoy watching him play.
The fact that MIL made the pitch suggests that MIL wants to trade him as soon as they can. Likely because they believe they have no shot at signing him to an extension this summer, and (understandably) they have no desire to go the route of retaining him into (if not through) next season in the hopes of a turnaround.
The fact that Giannis is rejecting the pitch suggests he was telling the truth when he said that he never asked for a trade, and that he’s still open to coming back to MIL next year (although clearly not ready to commit to extend). If he had asked for a trade (publicly or privately), then he wouldn’t have been pitched anything, he’d have been benched. Probably what MIL wants. Injury or not. Tanking or not.
Not willing to extend, yet not pushing for a trade. Tough situation for MIL, which gets tougher if he is unwilling to sign an extension with one or more of the teams that might pursue him.
I’d like to thank the author for mentioning the possibility of Giannis playing for the Bucks next season. I for one, expect to see him in Milwaukee next season. Enjoy the hoops.
Giannis as always doing the right thing!
What a stupidity all the shutting down for the season, never understood or will understand the concept, if he is healthy he must play, as simple as!
Let Giannis take 90% of the shots and go for Wilts record!
Bucks should read into this as Giannis is not on the same wavelength with management .
This is another passive aggressive hint that he wants out without making a trade request.
Horrible GM
The Bucks ownership does not want Giannis there. Period. I have been repeating this over and over on here.
It does seem like that. Reminds me of the Lillard and Portland all over, then Silver gave them Henderson basically and forced the Blazers hand etc. Just like Atlanta too recently too. If the Bucks get a top pick they definitely don’t deserve it
Cleveland bound maybe if they offload Mobley to Brooklyn cap’s space for a haul of picks and either Allen or Struss to a third team. Struss expiring with picks to Mil and save 42m. If this were to happen. Them, LeBron to Cleveland on the minimum with Bronny.