Giannis Antetokounmpo revealed that, as of today, he has decided he’s not going anywhere and wants to remain with the Milwaukee Bucks, noting that he hopes to spend the rest of his career there but is not the one who makes the final decision.
Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo’s name has been lingering in various NBA trade rumors since the Bucks’ first-round exit from the playoffs last season. However, Giannis once again denied all speculation about wanting to move on or seeking a way out of Milwaukee.
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In an interview with Sam Amick of The Athletic, Giannis made it clear that he is not going anywhere and remains fully invested in getting his team back into contention.
"I am not (going anywhere)," Giannis told The Athletic. "I am invested in this team. I want to turn this team around. I want to play good basketball. I want to be healthy. I want to help my teammates. I wanna win games."
"The last six games we’ve played, we’re 4-2. We have a lot of games in front of us. I’m locked the f— in. I’m locked in. My priority is just staying healthy."
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When asked whether he had made his final decision to stay, Giannis responded:
"As of today. You know how they say this thing about your significant other, or your wife, you always have to say, 'As of today,'" Giannis stated.
Antetokounmpo also said he doesn’t care about fans claiming he wants out of the team and added that it doesn’t bother him at all.
"I don’t care. I really don’t. It doesn’t affect me at all. What I care about is basketball. I want to be good at what I do. And there’s some things that I have to do, which I will do on the basketball court," he said.
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"But until today, my guy (Bucks director of content) Nick (Monroe, who was standing nearby) has been with me for 13 years, and it’s been great. Tomorrow, when I wake up, it may not be great. Today, our relationship is great. Tomorrow it might be different."
"It’s the same thing with my wife," Giannis added. "Until today, my wife is great. She’s a great mother. She’s a great partner. She supports me. Until today. Tomorrow, she might wake up and be like, 'I don’t want this. I fell out of love.' Until today, me and (Bucks general manager) Jon (Horst) have a good relationship. Tomorrow, (Horst) might think there’s something else out there, and he might have to do whatever he has to do."
"You know, for me, right now, today, I am committed — not 100 percent, but 1 million percent to my teammates, to my craft, to this team, and to this city. One million percent. I don’t look right. I don’t look left. I look only to the next game, which is the Lakers, and I want to win the game."
"I want us to stack wins before the All-Star game to get ourselves back to the race. We’re what, 11th now? This is not who we are, you know? So that’s the only thing in my mindset," Giannis said.
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When asked whether he plans to stay through the end of the season, Giannis explained that he doesn’t think only in terms of one season.
"My plan is to be here for the rest of my career," he stated.
However, he noted that ultimately the decision is not up to him.
"If they don’t want me … I’m not the one in charge. I am an employee," Giannis said.
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