Giannis Antetokounmpo is in front and center of every piece of NBA discussion right now as rumors swirl about which jersey he will be wearing by the end of the 2025 season, but he wants his Milwaukee Bucks teammates to stay focused on the campaign ahead.
Per Senior NBA insider Chris Haynes, Antetokounmpo called for a team meeting to discuss the current situation with some of his Bucks teammates. He relayed that he doesn't want any of the rampant speculation to affect the team's process or what is going on on the court.
Following a calf strain, the Greek two-time MVP is out of action as he awaits his future. After a recent slew of losses, Antetokounmpo purged his social media, mentioning anything about the franchise he has called home since being drafted in 2013.
Since getting 15th overall, the man nicknamed the "Greek Freak" has become Milwaukee's all-time greatest player, leading them to their second franchise title in 2021 against the Phoenix Suns.
The nine-time All-Star mentioned in an interview last season that he hopes all the great European talent that has come over to the United States in recent years gets the spotlight in the country's biggest cities. He cited Luka Doncic going to Los Angeles as a move that appeased him. This kick-started what has turned into a legitimate saga of Antetokounmpo's future, with it seemingly a matter of when he will be traded, not if he will at this point.
If Antetokounmpo is traded, there will be a record-long list of teams hoping for his services. At the top of the list, the New York Knicks, Miami Heat, and Los Angeles Lakers have been linked to the former champion.
Antetokounmpo's public goal is to win another championship, and the Milwaukee Bucks seem closer to a full rebuild than a contending side. The Bucks are 10-15 and on the verge of being entirely out of the play-ins in the Eastern Conference, having lost three of their last four.
Newsweek