{"id":330541,"date":"2025-10-09T08:31:19","date_gmt":"2025-10-09T08:31:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/330541\/"},"modified":"2025-10-09T08:31:19","modified_gmt":"2025-10-09T08:31:19","slug":"giannis-antetokounmpo-says-hes-locked-in-on-bucks-for-now","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/330541\/","title":{"rendered":"Giannis Antetokounmpo says he\u2019s locked in on Bucks, for now"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"MilwaukeeFile photo<\/p>\n

If Giannis Antetokounmpo<\/a> was bothered by the latest round of trade speculation, he didn\u2019t show it.<\/p>\n

Asked Wednesday about an ESPN report<\/a> claiming the Bucks and Knicks held offseason discussions<\/a> after he raised concerns about Milwaukee\u2019s title chances, the reigning MVP said he hadn\u2019t read the story \u2014 and didn\u2019t sound particularly interested in doing so.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve said this many times, I want to be in a situation where I can win, and right now I\u2019m here,\u201d Antetokounmpo told reporters, via The Athletic\u2019s Eric Nehm<\/a>. \u201cI believe in this team. I believe in my teammates. I\u2019m here to lead this team to wherever we can go. \u2026 The rest does not matter. I\u2019m locked into whatever I have in front of me.\u201d<\/p>\n

That said, the two-time MVP stopped short of making a long-term commitment to Milwaukee.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf in six, seven months I change my mind, I think that\u2019s human too,\u201d he admitted. \u201cYou\u2019re allowed to make any decision you want. But I\u2019m locked in \u2014 to this team, to these guys, to this coaching staff, and to myself.\u201d<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, coach Doc Rivers<\/a> didn\u2019t mince words when asked about the same report, calling it a one-sided phone call blown out of proportion.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been coaching 26, 27 years, and one thing I know is that 30 teams call 30 teams,\u201d Rivers said. \u201cThat does not constitute a conversation. I read where it said \u2018several conversations.\u2019 Well, that never happened. It was a call, and (GM Jon Horst) said no \u2014 like he has for 11 years. Jon has never called a team about Giannis. That\u2019s never happened.\u201d<\/p>\n

Antetokounmpo has two guaranteed years remaining on his max deal, with a player option for 2027\u201328. Despite Milwaukee\u2019s recent early playoff exits and its worst regular season since 2017\u201318, the 29-year-old remains at the top of his game.<\/p>\n

Last season, Giannis averaged 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, 6.5 assists, and 1.2 blocks while shooting over 60 percent from the field.<\/p>\n

For now, he\u2019s staying put. But the NBA world will continue to keep one eye on Milwaukee.<\/p>\n

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