In an exclusive interview with Lori Nickel of The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (subscriber link), Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo says he felt disrespected by the comments co-owner and current governor Wes Edens made to ESPN a couple weeks ago.
“Giannis is going into the last year (of his contract),” Edens told ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne. “So one of two things will happen: Either he will be extended or he’ll be traded. The likelihood you’ll let him just kind of play out the last year, we can’t afford that. It’s not consistent with what’s good for the organization. That’s not a Giannis issue. That’s any player that’s in their last year.”
While those comments could be interpreted as an ultimatum, Antetokounmpo told Nickel he views it a little differently.
“For me, it’s like a slap in my face,” Antetokounmpo said.
Antetokounmpo will earn $58.5MM in 2026/27, followed by a $62.8MM player option for ’27/28. He’ll become eligible on October 1 to sign a four-year, maximum-salary extension (the exact value would depend on where the ’27/28 cap ends up). If he doesn’t sign an extension and opts out of that player option, he would be an unrestricted free agent in 2027.
The 31-year-old forward told the Journal Sentinel he found out about Edens’ stance when ESPN’s story was released. Antetokounmpo admits he wasn’t thrilled with the indirect communication.
“It says a lot …” Antetokounmpo said.
According to Nickel, the two-time MVP wasn’t “angry” or “accusatory” when he answered questions, but he was “straightforward.”
Nickel asked Antetokounmpo how many times he has spoken to Edens during the 2025/26 season, and he only recalled one conversation, which came via Zoom. Co-owner Jimmy Haslam was also on that Zoom call, and Antetokounmpo said he talked to Haslam one additional time.
Milwaukee has an unusual ownership structure that involves the governor title changing hands between co-owners Edens and Jimmy Haslam every five years (Haslam will become governor in 2028). In addition to controlling ownership rotating between those two men, another franchise shareholder, Jamie Dinan, is reportedly involved in major decisions.
Antetokounmpo wondered aloud whether the Nuggets or Thunder would ever make similar comments about Nikola Jokic or Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, respectively.
“Especially [as] somebody that has been this loyal, and I’ve showed appreciation, to the team, to the community, to the fans, to everybody that I’ve worked with, you know?” Antetokounmpo said. “And that’s almost, like, a slap in my face.”
This isn’t the first time Antetokounmpo and Edens have made differing public comments. Edens told reporters at the Bucks’ media day in late September that he had a “great conversation” with Antetokounmpo last June and that the nine-time All-NBA member “made it clear that he was very committed to Milwaukee.” At the time, Giannis said he didn’t recall that discussion.
Antetokounmpo reiterated his commitment and love for Milwaukee again during the interview, according to Nickel, who writes that the 10-time All-Star also made it clear he hopes future conversations between he and the Bucks remain private.
“I’m here, I committed, I’m wearing the jersey, and it is disrespectful to my teammates, to my coaching staff, to the people that I go and sweat with, and go to war with, to say, ‘I don’t want to be here’ − and I will never do that,” Antetokounmpo told the Journal Sentinel.
“Now, what goes on in private rooms? It’s not my job, it’s not my responsibility, and it should not − in no shape or form − be shared in public. I believe in etiquette. I believe in human etiquette, I believe in basketball etiquette. So with my owners, I have addressed what I feel and what I believe the situation is.
“Same with my GM, same with my coaches.
“And for me, that [Edens] comment was a slap [in] the face. But, it’s my boss. So I just gotta keep on moving forward.”
A Bucks employee was instructed to listen in on the conversation Antetokounmpo was having with the Journal Sentinel, Nickel writes. Antetokounmpo, who agreed that his contract gave him a degree of leverage this summer, said that while he still speaks to GM Jon Horst, the communication between the two isn’t as regular as it once was. He also made it clear he doesn’t trust the front office.
“Nobody,” he said. “I don’t feel comfortable talking to nobody.”
Antetokounmpo told Nickel he’s been more closed off this season.
“I tried this whole year to stay to myself, and also this past summer,” Antetokounmpo said. “I was more closed off to myself. I don’t know if that’s because I don’t feel comfortable opening up enough. Or if it’s just, I just don’t want to open up at this point.
“It’s definitely not like before.”
The league continues to investigate the Bucks for possible player participation policy violations over disagreements with Antetokounmpo about whether he’s healthy enough to play this season. The Bucks insist the perennial MVP candidate is still injured due to a left knee injury, while Antetokounmpo says he’s ready to play.
“You know who you are dealing with,” Antetokounmpo said Friday. “So for somebody to come and tell me to not play or not to compete, it’s like a slap in my face. So, I don’t know where the relationship goes from there.”
Head coach Doc Rivers said after Friday’s loss to Boston that he was tired of being in the middle of the public disagreements between management and Antetokounmpo, according to Eric Nehm of The Athletic. Rivers said it wasn’t up to him whether Antetokounmpo would be active or not.
“I’m out of the business of trying this subliminal messaging or all that crap,” Rivers said. “I’ve heard all the stuff. I just want everybody to be on the same side, (because) they deserve it. All of ‘em. I don’t think there’s a bad person in this group — none of the guys that I’m talking about. I think they’re all good people. But we gotta figure out how to put good people on the same page and it stays inside.”
This story is tired… Giannis needs to fire his PR team. Going scorched earth because you’re pissed you did not get traded is childish.
That’s not it. He’s pissed that the team isn’t on the same page. He has always said that he wants to be in Milwaukee. He also wants the team to be competitive. The front office is messing up this relationship. Giannis will probably be traded in the off-season.
I get kind of the same vibe. Once they realized Turner wasn’t a fix all it seems like they’ve done everything in their power to goad Giannis into demanding the relationship ends. I think Giannis understands that which is why he tries to soften the blow whenever he says something about leaving.
@Wash
So they’ve “goaded” their best player and gave of the franchise into demanding the relationship end AFTER acquiring Lillard? seeing it not work, dealing with a session ending injury that locked up their cap space thus forcing them to stretch out and eat his contract to fee up Mullins to sign the top FA available Then after seeing THAT didn’t work could with Giannis bring injured they decided “hey…1 year into this mega investment we made let’s “goad” our singular most important player to our franchise into demanding a trade that would force us to trade him, likely to a destination of his choosing and forcing a rebuild? You do know that in any trade they have to take back equal salary, at least for the year. Post-Giannis is going to ST them back and cody them tens of Mullins and lots of losses. I’m 99% sure they would prefer him to stay and be patient why they try and get the cap under control and retool. I get that Giannis wants to win but he’s the reason why the team is in this situation because they got to the point in their cap where all they could do was trade dolar for dollar and try to improve around margins. Giannis is more to blame for this ending this way. No way would the Cavs wanted LBJ to leave, GSW for Curry, etc. Any frustration he should’ve kept between him, his agent and the team. With 10 games left, sitting him was the ABSOLUTE best thing to do. They have ZERO hoped of bring a play in team and of he gets injured again then it could effect him for next season if he’s returns and certainly adds a bit of doubt that could effect his trade value of they decide to move him. That “I want to play” is selfish and simply sounds good to the fans and the media, both two audiences the team shouldn’t be seated by I’m THIS decision which is all about protecting their best asset.
That’s not true at all. They got him Damian Lillard and he didn’t like playing off the ball. He kept complaining that he needed the ball in his hands to be effective, which isn’t true. He just wanted to do what he wanted to do. A pick and roll with Giannis and Dame would have been impossible to guard but he didn’t wanna do it. Then he went and gave the fans the two thumbs down because they were booing. But you’re a losing team and everyone is used to you winning. So it should be no surprise that they’re not happy. Then, he starts talking about Heat culture and how much he likes it, knowing his situation with the team. Like, come on…
Regardless of how good Dame and Giannis COULD have been, the reality is that Dame went down and the Bucks panicked causing them to stretch his remaining salary over 5 years. I’ve said it a thousand times and I’ll say it a thousand more – that was the last nail in the coffin. Everything else has been a prolonging of the inevitable from both sides as both sides know that you can’t be a competitive team with 20 mil of dead money on the books every year. They also know that a Bucks/Giannis relationship is only beneficial to both sides so long as the team is competitive. Rock and a hard place.
Also the Heat culture thing seems blown out of proportion too when there are clips from like the last 5 years of him saying he’d like to play in a bunch of different cities and a bunch of different teams.
“Also the Heat culture thing seems blown out of proportion too when there are clips from like the last 5 years of him saying he’d like to play in a bunch of different cities and a bunch of different teams.”
That’s the whole point. Why are you gonna get annoyed with the incessant questions, about if you want to stay or go, when you are consistently talking about how cool it would be if you played in different markets?
Which other player, in that tier does stuff like that? Dude acts like he doesn’t know his position, which he clearly does. Says a bunch stuff, walks it back and then gets annoyed when he’s asked about it. Just stop talking…
@Tune
Nope. He may not be ASKING for a trade but he’s certainly been passive aggressive. This team has exhausted every effort to try and get the team another chip during his prime years. The salary cap is very harsh on teams that try and run it back. You keep going over the cap and end up someplace where you really can’t add talent. They even stretched out and ate salary for Lillard to free up cap space to sign Myles Turner. That may have turned out poorly but he was likely the best option on the free agent market. Saying either were going to extend him or trade him vs letting him walk is in no way offensive. Not sure what his issue is with that statement. I hate the fact he makes public statements like with them not clearing him to play. What’s the incentive other than his ego? He should’ve voiced that privately.
People say things all the time, especially in the world of sports. I get that some people choose to believe Giannis given who he is, but I don’t know why it should *automatically* be assumed that his words can be fully trusted. This is a business and that applies to everyone; players, teams, ownership.
He does not want to be in Milwaukee he wants to pull the LeBron James move where he controls the team. I’m so sick and tired of Giannis the reason why Milwaukee is in the position they are in is because they’ve done everything to appease Giannis. Yeah, he can’t even get his team into the playoffs because he’s always hurt from his playing style. The team is trading him. This all sees it. They have to have some mysteries so they can get something back. 100% any team that trades for him is not going to really win a championship. If he goes to Miami what do they have? The only trade out there that makes sense. Is the New York Knicks and take back cat and maybe brunson and Giannis have a chance?. He’s not going to San Antonio and he’s not going to OKC. So what other move. Unless the Lakers give up every pick. But then you have two superstar that are always injured. Sounds like the clippers.
You want to hold the Bucks responsible you got to hold the honest responsible you wanted Damian you lillard he got hurt And to try fix that you stretched him because you told the team you wanted to compete. They did that brought him Miles Turner. And you want to believe Myles Turner when Giannis isn’t even played 50 games this season? He’s been hurt all season long and the season before that and the season before that because he doesn’t want to get a jump shot or a post game.
Only place Milwaukee messed up. Was trading for Dane instead of tearing the whole team down and rebuilding either around Giannis or trading him and just starting going over completely
Ye ‘ol “dis culture”. 🙄
It’s so tiresome and does nothing but harm.
I thought Giannis would stay in Milwaukee and to me he is as loyal as can be. But looks like the owners/front office really do want him gone. Bye bye.
Nothing wrong with Eden’s comment at all. They are the Milwaukee Bucks. At the end of the day, they need to do what’s best for the team. Giannis has become a drama queen.
Should have traded him a year ago.
Thanks for the Championship, your jersey will forever hang in the rafters and you’ll always be a local hero.
Good luck in your next destination.
Whoever trades for him is going to regret the trade. His attitude is all about him not the team. Please don’t let it be the warriors. He is going to the next club and just destroy the team’s chemistry.
It’s OK if it’s the Warriors based on two things. No contract extension and don’t give up 4 first round picks.
Any team wanting to trade for him must demand an extension or don’t trade for him. His value would be real low.
I guess I would trade Greymond and Butler for Giannis and include one first round pick.
Give it a run with Steph and the others and see what happens for a year or two. Any longer than that and it would be a mistake in my opinion.
Needless to say the Bucks could probably do way better than that deal elsewhere so it ain’t happening is my hope.
I just hope Lacob doesn’t tell MD jr to go all in for him. Most I would do is Podz, butler and a 1st for Giannis. Of course the will be not enough. One of the top teams this year will come up short and make a deal for him as the missing piece.
Gary,
If you don’t give up Butler in the Giannis trade. Your not winning a championship. You would have no bench. And Curry can hold up the whole season nor can Giannis
What attitude? You are making this up because you dont want my predictions to come true.
Not necessarily. Just look at what happened with Jimmy. There are plenty of people in this world whose true colors come out when circumstances would change, but put them in the right situation and they can stay on their best behavior.
That said, I agree to the extent that it’s a non-zero risk depending on how things shake out.
I agree completely. Everybody keeps giving the players the benefit of the doubt but Giannis created this mess. No team is going to trade her franchise Superstar cornerstone player. But Giannis has been playing the fence the whole time. That’s the worst place anybody can be in anything in life. Pick a side either leave or stay but don’t sit there and switch back and forth with all your comments using the media. You’ve been saying to the media you want to leave but then tell him the team behind closed doors you want to stay. Which one is it?
Giannis appears to not be very bright. That was a super mild statement by the owner.
Also, he wants to be a Laker so bad. But I’m not sure the Lakers want him (and the contortions they’d have to go through to trade for him).
Get over yourself. Edens is a business person and sports is a business. His comments were 100% factually accurate.
So much noise about a declining star
Giannis being angered by indirect communication is rich.
Trade me or I am sitting out next season.
Boo hoo what does this guy expect. Not everyone is like the angels with ohtani. If he loves milwaukee that much he should just retire and run for mayor and give his bros position as his assistants.
He’s doing everything but requesting a trade
while the owners are doing everything they can to make him request a trade
Bucks are overpriced his worth. He is not a 4 1st round pick player. Wherever he goes he will leave next year and be a free agent. So his value is not worth much.
Not true. Only teams that will instantly extend him will make an offer.
Without an extension he is not worth much. Bucks want full value for him so they better trade him before the draft. It’s a deep draft.
Draft picks aren’t created equal, and the upcoming 3 years of drafts are going to be 10x more valuable than the last 5 drafts.
These comments about Giannis are pretty rough.
#RIP Gerald Paddio
Bucks front office is so slimy. Free Giannis from that terrible organization!
Agreed. But you know he’s going to Miami
Miami or the Knicks cant offer what GSW can. 3 parties have to be satisfied here.
Ownership is stating exactly what every team thinks and plans for. But no team owner would ever make such a statements publicly. Giannis is simply disappointed that He’s not receiving the proverbial Pat on the back for a job Well done as he goes out the door.
Heck every time I was fired my boss said I did a wonderful job and they were sad to see me go lol. Why wouldn’t Giannis expect the same from his boss?
These media stories about Giannis are getting so annoying, im getting tired of Giannis saying hes committed to Milwaukee while also trying to get out behind the scenes
100%.
He’s playing games when he says he’s letting the Bucks decide what to do. OK not playing games.., he’s lying !!
He wants out but just doesn’t want to voice it. Doesn’t want to take any blame for ruining a franchise and leaving.
Never bothered Shaq or LeBron or KD. They do what’s best for them.
Nothing wrong with Giannis speaking up from himself and doing what’s best for him and his family. Go ahead and ask out if that’s what you want.
He also wants to go certain teams and made it known.
With Giannis already stating he’s likely to cheat on his wife once he gets bored of her, no surprise here on these latest, slimy, blame-the-victim comments.
Maybe the dumbest single thing ever written in here. My god do you suck at trolling.
Oh! Oh, the soap opera!
Neither side is acting outrageously. Each could better communicate the precise state of affairs between them with the rest of the world, most specifically the MIL fanbase. Although, in truth, it’s pretty clear what’s going on now.
MIL and Giannis have a contract that goes through next season, with a player option for another season. Giannis has indicated he’s committed to living up to that contract, as he should be. But there is nothing in that contract or the CBA that suggests Giannis must, prior to the last fixed contract year commencing, either request a trade or sign an extension. In fact, the contract, as designed, presupposes the player doing the opposite – playing out the deal to completion. It’s actually the requesting of a trade what would (certainly if public) violate the contract. Giannis shouldn’t have to apologize for following the terms of his contract.
Edens, for his part, just recited MIL’s position on what is going to happen in the off season if Giannis doesn’t sign an extension. A team’s right under the contract for sure, and, in recent years, it’s become the most typical of team positions. Edens certainly doesn’t need to apologize for the team’s position or stating it.
DXC Thank you. My guess is you’ve probably been tempted to write that type of message for months maybe even years and you finally did.
I definitely respect your ability to take the high road on practically all occasions. It’s not that easy for me personally so a tip of the cap to you.
Not sure what Mr. 0.0 wrote to spur your reaction but it must’ve been a doozy lol .., Again, for me, the mute button is a beautiful thing.
Whoever Giannas signs with will not win a title.
Oh yeah, bold prediction here! There are 300+ guys in the league who could switch teams tomorrow and their team wouldn’t win a title… congrats, you just described most of the league
Giannis has a title. Winners win. You dont know ball.
Just ask for a trade already and be done with it. Giannis is so desperate to cling to the whole “I never asked for a trade” nonsense, that he’ll basically try and sulk his way out of town instead.
Frankly it’s a piss poor PR job that most should be able to see through. Then again, my faith in people being able to see through the obvious is pretty much at an all-time low at this point so I’m not surprised some still believe in the thinly-veiled facade.
#FreeGiannis
Milwaukee ain’t deserving Giannis!
Giannis spent years making comments about leaving if the organization isn’t competitive. But now that someone else wants to be a little open it’s a problem.
This doesn’t make Giannis look very mature or self aware.
What are you even talking about?
Both the Bucks and Giannis have messed this whole thing up. Giannis clearly wants a trade but doesn’t want to look like the bad guy, and the Bucks, if they’re doing what’s best for the organization, should have traded him long ago. His value is low at this point and they won’t get anything for him because he’s a walking (sometimes) injury. They have no way to rebuild because no team is gonna be stupid enough to give up players and a bunch of picks for him. And they can’t keep him because all he does is bitch and complain that he’s treated badly. No easy way out for either party here.
Giannis is just finding out the reality of being an employee…
You can show all the loyalty in the world and do things no one has done for the business in decades… But “business decisions” mean you aren’t worthy of reciprocation of loyalty…
The Bucks should absolutely not be playing him right now. Every other team in the NBA does this when they are out of the playoff picture.
Gianni’s is being a Diva. They did everything he asked, including mortgaging all of their draft capital to bring in Dame, who Giannis asked for.
The bucks can’t have a devastating injury to Giannis if he’s not going to sign an extension. His trade value is nearly lost with an ACL or Achilles mishap.
Get over it, G-man, that’s the business of the game. The Bucks bent them selves over backwards for this guy for the last decade. Including rostering his brothers that have no business being on an NBA or G-League roster anywhere.
Give us a break from this manufactured drama already!