Every NBA analyst seems to have a lot to say on what the future of Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo might hold. This past weekend, though, the forward had no words at all.
Antetopounmpo posted a picture of himself on his Instagram account Sunday. But the forward didn’t include any message. With the post, Antetopounmpo simply used the praying and saluting emoji along with the photo.
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The picture was of Antetokounmpo bowing his head while wearing his pre-game postgame warmup attire from the first round. The Bucks lost to the Indiana Pacers in five games.
It was the second straight first-round defeat Milwaukee suffered to Indiana. Since the defeat, Antetokounmpo has become the subject of trade rumors.
Milwaukee Bucks All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo© Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 33 points, 15.4 rebounds and 6.6 assists per game during the playoff series. Yet, Milwaukee still only managed to defeat Indiana once.
The Pacers defeated the Bucks by at least 16 points in three of their four victories.
It’s unclear what Antetokounmpo was trying to say with his Instagram post. But anything the forward says to the media or posts on social media this offseason will come under the microscope.
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ESPN’s Jamal Collier reported Wednesday the forward and the Bucks plan to meet at some point over the next few weeks to discuss the future. That isn’t unusual. Collier wrote Antetokounmpo and team meet after every season, but the ESPN reporter suggested this year’s meeting will be more crucial than years past.
Antetokounmpo led Milwaukee to the 2021 NBA title. But since then, the Bucks have advanced past the first round only once.
Without a first-round pick until the 2031 NBA Draft, Milwaukee also has limited resources to improve the team’s roster this summer.
Related: Blockbuster NBA Trade Idea Pairs Giannis Antetokounmpo and Victor Wembanyama