Giannis Antetokounmpo has not requested a trade from the Milwaukee Bucks, the only NBA franchise he's ever played for.
A future Hall of Famer, Antetokounmpo told Brazilian outlet "Coast to Coast" that he wants to return to the NBA Finals with the Bucks, who have won just one postseason series since winning the 2021 championship against the Phoenix Suns in six games.
Many pundits and fans think Antetokounmpo should request a trade out of Milwaukee since Damian Lillard could miss all of next season recovering from his left Achilles tendon tear.
However, one NBA exec told Adam Zagoria of NJ Advance Media that Antetokounmpo "isn't going anywhere this summer."
“Giannis isn’t going anywhere this summer,” the executive told NJ Advance Media on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to speak for the Milwaukee Bucks. “The Bucks feel they can still win with him.”
It looks like Giannis Antetokounmpo is staying with the Bucks.
It looks like Giannis Antetokounmpo is staying with the Bucks.
Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
Antetokounmpo is a two-time MVP, a one-time Finals MVP, a one-time Defensive Player of the Year and a nine-time All-Star. He has career averages of 23.9 points, 9.9 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.2 blocks.
Antetokounmpo, 30, will make $54.1 million next season. The Bucks signed the forward to a three-year, $175 million extension in October 2023.
Antetokounmpo is one of the top players in the NBA. He averaged 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 0.9 steals and 1.2 blocks for the Bucks this season while shooting 60.1% from the field and 61.7% from the free-throw line.
The Greek Freak made the All-NBA First Team this year, but the Pacers bounced his team in the first round of the playoffs for the second year in a row.
According to Matt Moore of Hardwood Paroxysm, though, “several teams” around the NBA assume Antetokounmpo will remain with the Bucks.