With the Bucks‘ season officially over, the focus can fully turn toward Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s future, writes Tim Bontemps of ESPN. Big changes appear to be on the horizon in Milwaukee, starting with Doc Rivers’ revelation Sunday night that he won’t be returning as head coach. An Antetokounmpo trade is also expected at some point during the offseason, but nothing is set in stone.
Antetokounmpo will become eligible on October 1 to sign a four-year, maximum-salary extension, which provides a powerful financial incentive to extend his time with the Bucks. He will earn $58.5MM next season and holds a $62.8MM player option for 2027/28, enabling him to become an unrestricted free agent next summer, so the odds of a trade will increase dramatically if he informs the organization that he won’t accept an extension.
Antetokounmpo didn’t provide much clarity about his future in a session with reporters Sunday night.
“That’s a very good question,” he replied when asked if he has already played his last game in a Milwaukee uniform. “I don’t know. It’s not up to me. We’ll see.”
Antetokounmpo has been open about his desire to win another championship and didn’t hide his frustration with the Bucks’ 32-50 campaign, Bontemps adds. He stated that the team is as far away from title contention as it’s been at any point in his 13-year career and addressed communication issues that have clouded the season.
“I feel like sometimes people just don’t listen,” he said. “They listen to the sources. The main source is me. It is what it is. So again, do not disturb on my phone, go about my day, improve, and come back better.”
Antetokounmpo has been in a public dispute with the team over whether he was healthy enough to return from a left knee hyperextension and bone bruise that he suffered on March 15. The NBA launched an investigation of the disagreement, as Antetokounmpo insisted that he wanted to play again, while the Bucks contend he never fully healed and wasn’t being totally sincere in his public statements.
Antetokounmpo told reporters on Sunday that he had “zero control” over the situation, but emphasized that he did everything the team asked him to, including participating in three-on-three scrimmages “multiple times.”
“I don’t know who said that, who came up with that, but that’s disrespectful towards what I’ve done for this team and the way I carry myself my whole career, pretty much,” he said. “But I did what I was supposed to do. I wasn’t able to come on the court now. Who has that say? It probably comes from my boss, probably comes from the members of the front office or the owners. So, I thought I had control, kind of like, ‘OK, if I’m healthy, I’m going to play.’ But this shows me that not just me, just players in general, don’t have no control. We got to do what we’ve been told. So, to answer your question, no. I didn’t feel like I had control.”
In an interview last month, team co-owner Wes Edens indicated that Antetokounmpo will either be extended or traded during the offseason. On Sunday, Antetokounmpo didn’t dismiss the idea of accepting the extension, pointing out that the decision is months away and saying he’ll “try to make the best decision for me and my family.” But he also stressed that the team is very far away from where he expected it to be.
“I didn’t think we’re going to be in this position last year, so I don’t know what position we’re going to be next year,” he added. “So, if everything goes well, hopefully, the Bucks want me here, why not? But if they don’t? OK.”
Are we being serious with this? I think maybe he stays bc it’s the only team that will employ his family.
No, enough. He burned the bridge reporting them. The Bucks need to trade them before this torpedoes the franchise further. Because what’s to stop a bunch of drama next season? Sometimes you need to accept the relationship is over and it’s time to break up.
And we also need to acknowledge he owns part of a prediction betting site where people can spend money predicting if he will or won’t be traded and how stories like this can spur spending.