Are the Boston Celtics interested in trading for Milwaukee Bucks star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo? Or is Giannis trying to find his way to a better situation with a dash of what the Athletic’s Sam Amick calls “reverse tampering”?
Recently, the Bucks star had high praise for the Celtics and Boston head coach Joe Mazzulla, pointing out how the Celtics made a contender this season despite the loss of several key players from their 2024 title core to injury, free agency, or trades. The subtext, of course, is a shot at the team he’s been playing for since he was drafted in 2013 for not doing the same. Now, Amick reports that Boston “who have the ‘Two Jays’ back now and look fully capable of winning it all, are known to be interested and discussed in league circles as potential suitors.”
Advertisement
At first, a Celtics fan would have their hackles raised by such a statement, given that any move to bring on Giannis would require shipping out one of Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, or Derrick White and a large chunk of Boston’s rotation players. And given the recent health and age (31) of the Greek forward, that does not sound like the boon it might have been as recently as a season or two ago.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – APRIL 03: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics and Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks talk after the game at Fiserv Forum on April 03, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
Asked about the conversation Antetokounmpo cited regarding Boston’s success this season and his role in it, Mazzulla replied (via Boston Dot Com reporter Khari A. Thompson), “He’s a great player, but I think my reaction is that you can’t do anything unless you have the players to be able to do it.”
“It’s just that simple. I think the greatest gift you can have as a coach, especially in the NBA, is to have a group of players that have a high competitive character, care about winning and want to get better,” noted the Celtics coach, reiterating his position in said conversation that it is less about him and more about the collective of people that have been assembled by the team’s front office, and what they each bring to the table.
Advertisement
“I think it starts there.”
Listen to “Havlicek Stole the Pod” on:
Blue Wire: https://tiny.ee/CdKp
iTunes: https://tiny.ee/RK47
YouTube: https://tiny.ee/cOW3
This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Report: Celtics ‘known to be interested’ in Giannis Antetokounmpo