When it comes to any questions regarding his long-term future with the organization, Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo would prefer people get their info straight from the source.
“I feel like sometimes people just don’t listen,” he told reporters after the team’s season came to an end Sunday. “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.”
During the same media session, Antetokounmpo said the Bucks were “very bad” this year and “the furthest away that we’ve been” from seriously contending.
A lot of fans will read between the lines as to what such a candid assessment of Milwaukee’s situation means about the next steps for Giannis. Still, the two-time MVP said the ball is basically in the Bucks’ court in terms of him staying.
“This is what we have in front of us,” he said. “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.
“So, if everything goes well, hopefully, the Bucks want me here, why not? But if they don’t? OK.”
Herein lies one of the more tedious aspects of this ongoing saga.
Antetokounmpo wants fans to go by what he says on the record, but when he addresses the story he remains mostly vague and noncommittal. He could end a lot of the drama by stating beyond a shadow of a doubt he wants to be in Milwaukee on opening night for 2026-27.
In a January interview with The Athletic’s Sam Amick, Giannis said that “there will never be a chance, and there will never be a moment that I will come out and say, ‘I want a trade.'”
At the same time, Antetokounmpo attempted to argue he’s “not the one in charge” and doesn’t ultimately shape his tenure with the Bucks, which generally runs counter to the conventional wisdom with disgruntled stars in the NBA.
It’s difficult to envision all of this continuing for another season.
Milwaukee is a long way from a championship and has few assets at its disposal to improve the roster this summer. Antetokounmpo isn’t wrong for thinking there are greener pastures elsewhere.
The constant speculation over the franchise’s best player isn’t helping, either.
ESPN’s Shams Charania and Jamal Collier did a deep dive on the state of the Bucks and detailed how much things have unraveled. While Antetokounmpo’s effort on the court was never in question during his 36 appearances, the sense he’s on the way out was pervasive.
“When your best player is one foot in, one foot out, you’re not going to win,” one source said.
A Giannis trade will almost certainly trigger a full-scale rebuild, and no fanbase every wants to watch a legend leave on such a sour note. But everyone involved might be happy to some degree when this chapter finally closes.