Amidst the sunshine and rainbows that are your 2025–26 Milwaukee Bucks, clouds have entered the picture. Per Shams:
> Giannis Antetokounmpo and his agent Alex Saratsis have started conversations with the Milwaukee Bucks about the two-time NBA MVP’s future – and discussing whether his best fit is staying or elsewhere, sources tell ESPN. A resolution is expected in the coming weeks.
The news is not entirely unsurprising, as the Bucks are mired in eight losses over nine games, including an absolute screamer to the Washington Wizards on Monday night. Many of those games were played without Giannis or starting point guard Kevin Porter Jr., but the combination of Milwaukee’s performances, Doc Rivers’ coaching, and particularly the results against the (admittedly few) low-quality opponents during that stretch has sounded some alarms. The bad vibes have primarily targeted Doc Rivers, with our own Jackson Gross calling for him to be fired. But it makes sense that he would not be the only casualty.
Look, it is in the best interest of everyone at ESPN for Giannis to board the next flight to New York and call it quits on Milwaukee. But the source should not discredit that this is a tough moment for the Bucks. In light of the dour present and the potentially dour short- and medium-term future for the franchise, Giannis may view his best chances at a title lie elsewhere. It is his right to make that call.
Still, conversations are conversations. Giannis has played his entire career in Milwaukee; there are shreds of optimism amidst the gloom (hello, All-Star Ryan Rollins?), and a recommitted Giannis would hopefully perform with more accountability than he [showed](/bucks-analysis/55186/bucks-vs-wizards-player-grades-stats-giannis-bobby-portis-kevin-porter-jr) on Monday.