Many members of the basketball community were stunned that superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo remained with the Milwaukee Bucks through the Feb. 5 NBA trade deadline. 

During a chat with ESPN’s Malika Andrews that was shared on Sunday, Antetokounmpo opened up about a future that remains quite uncertain beyond the end of this season. 

What Giannis Antetokounmpo is committed to “as of today”

“As of today, I’m committed to the Milwaukee Bucks,” Antetokounmpo explained. “I’m committed to the people that I work with, my teammates, the coaching staff, Coach Doc [Rivers] and [GM] Jon [Horst] in the front office. What I’ve said from the beginning of this year is that, out of my mouth and the way I’ve carried myself, you will never hear me say I don’t want to be a Milwaukee Buck.”

Via multiple interviews that occurred ahead of the trade deadline, Antetokounmpo insisted that he wanted “to be a Milwaukee Buck for the rest of [his] career.” That said, the 23-30 Bucks entered the NBA All-Star break sitting in 12th place in the Eastern Conference standings. The perception exists that Milwaukee isn’t one solid offseason away from becoming a championship contender with or without Antetokounmpo on the roster. 

Antetokounmpo hasn’t played for the Bucks since Jan. 23 due to a calf injury. Recent stories linked the two-time NBA MVP with the Minnesota Timberwolves, New York Knicks, Golden State Warriors, Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat. He could become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2027 if he declines the player option attached to his contract, and many assume he will be traded once more teams are able to enter the Antetokounmpo sweepstakes during the summer. 

Has Giannis Antetokounmpo quit on Bucks amid losing season?

“I am a winner, and I’m extremely loyal,” Antetokounmpo added during the interview, per Garrett Stepien of SNY. “But the only thing that I feel sometimes…growing up, you dream, ‘Oh, what if I played for the Knicks, Madison Square Garden? What if I get drafted by the Lakers and I’m teammates with Kobe (Bryant)? What if I go play for the Cavs and LeBron (James) passes me the ball?’ Like, you just dream, right? So, it doesn’t change as an adult. You turn on the TV, watch OKC, watch Celtics (and think), ‘How would that work?’ You always dream. If there will ever be a scenario…where I’ll be a Milwaukee Buck no more, I just don’t want everybody to think, like, hey, man, I quit on my team — because it’s my team, and I love them.”

Antetokounmpo may not fully quit on the Bucks before the ongoing season wraps up, but it nevertheless seems to be a matter of when and not if a divorce will be finalized.