Ever since the Milwaukee Bucks were eliminated by the Indiana Pacers in the first round of the NBA Playoffs, there has been speculation that Giannis Antetokounmpo could request a trade away from the only team he has ever played for in order to have a better chance of winning another title.
Of course, this is nothing new. National media personalities have been trying to get Giannis out of Milwaukee for years. That being said, the fact that the Bucks were eliminated in the first round for the third year in a row lent more credibility to their speculation.
For the first time in a long time, perhaps even ever, many fans believed they had seen the last of Giannis in a Bucks uniform.
Giannis Antetokounmpo Says He Wants to Go the NBA Finals Again with the Milwaukee Bucks
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
Apr 27, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) gets ready to play Indiana Pacers during game four of first round for the 2024 NBA Playoffs at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
That being said, for years, Giannis has stated that, as long as Milwaukee is committed to winning, he wants to stay in a Bucks uniform. Despite their recent postseason failures, he realizes that the team is, indeed, trying to win and has a plan to hopefully return to the NBA Finals within the next couple of seasons.
Currently, the Greek Freak is taking in some soccer matches down in Brazil, and during an appearance on a Brazilian media show, he said of the Finals, “There are two great teams that got there. Indiana, with my friend Pascal Siakam, is reaping the rewards, and OKC simply has the MVP [Shai Gilgeous-Alexander]. I’m rooting for good basketball.
“The Finals are different, I hope to be back soon with the Bucks.”
The message, of course, cannot be more clear: he is not going to request a trade.
However, ESPN’s Shams Charania, who has championed the Giannis trade talk all offseason, doubled down on his stance, telling Pat McAfee, “His status will not be tied to the NBA Draft, it won’t be tied to free agency. It’s much more likely that his future plays out into July and into August. There’s a difference between being open-minded and, from what I’m told, exploring other options.”
Milwaukee Bucks Fans Trash Shams Charania for His Giannis Antetokounmpo Stance
Milwaukee Bucks, Giannis Antetokounmpo
Apr 22, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) shoots the ball during game two of first round for the 2024 NBA Playoffs against the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
As one might have expected, Bucks fans were quick to drag Shams on social media when his comments were posted:
Shams now going with a NEW lie that GA is watching film of other teams while on vacation??? Dude can’t just say. EYE WAS WRONG 😂😂😂😂.
What a LOSER!! https://t.co/HwajEaQZcT
— Trey Crosby III Guru (@TCIIIESQ) June 11, 2025
This guy man. https://t.co/fPt8IqWpxW
— Trevor Theissen (@trev_theissen) June 11, 2025
Just cleanse yourself and just say that you made up the Giannis narrative @ShamsCharania. This is embarrassing https://t.co/fyANv95aNC
— Lambeau Nation (@lambeau_nations) June 11, 2025
Shams in 2025 https://t.co/DsYVfsFtRR pic.twitter.com/MbISZg3HWP
— Josh Stewart (@jstew262) June 11, 2025
One cannot blame Bucks fans for reacting this way. At worst, Shams is calling Giannis a liar, and at best he is just making stuff up or reporting false information that has been fed to him.
That being said, Giannis has never given any indication that he wants to leave Milwaukee, and no one should expect him to until he plainly says that he does. Which may never happen.
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