As soon as the 2024-25 NBA season came to an end for his Milwaukee Bucks, Giannis Antetokounmpo’s future with the two-time NBA champions became a hot topic around the league.
The two-time MVP has been on many teams’ radars for several years now, including the Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat, and even the Los Angeles Lakers. Antetokounmpo has remained loyal to the team that drafted him in the 2013 NBA Draft despite being linked with other teams almost every year.
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In 859 games, Antetokounmpo averages 23.9 points, 9.9 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game. He’s become a nine-time All-Star, an eight-time All-NBA, a one-time NBA champion, and a one-time Finals MVP, among other accolades.
After another failed season with the Bucks, the second with Damian Lillard and Doc Rivers, the conversations about Antetokounmpo’s future started again.
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) gets ready to play the New Orleans Pelicans at Fiserv Forum.Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
The Bucks are in a complex position after making multiple win-now moves that left them without control of their draft picks until 2031 (via RealGM). During Friday’s episode of the “ALL NBA Podcast,” insider Marc Stein explained why the draft situation, Damian Lillard’s contract, and the financial aspects of having Antetokounmpo on the team make it difficult for the Bucks to part ways with their star.
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He said that unless Antetokounmpo pushes for it, they won’t move their franchise player.
“I don’t think Giannis himself does not want to go to the Bucks and say ‘Trade me’. But next year, there’s no way with Damian Lillard carrying a salary of nearly 60 million, they don’t have control of their own first-round pick till 2031, they don’t have a pathway to build a contender around him at this point. But the rumbles that you always hear are that just having Giannis is so important to them financially. They’re not going to trade him unless he pushes it.”
Antetokounmpo will be 31 during his 13th NBA season. He’s still one of the best players in the league, but four years removed since his first championship, the Greek superstar hasn’t been close to another NBA Finals.
This offseason could be crucial for his career and the Bucks’ future.
Related: What Did Tyrese Haliburton’s Father Say to Giannis Antetokounmpo?