The Milwaukee Bucks may be just 16-21 on the season. They may be just 11th in the Eastern Conference, below where they want to be. And they may be performing, overall, at a level that is disturbingly below what was expected of them.
But while they may be coming off a frustrating 120-113 loss to the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night, today has been a good day to be a Bucks fan, all thanks to nine-time (soon to be ten-time) All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Indeed, there have been plenty of Wisconsin sports figures that have etched their names into the lore of the state and are beloved by fans. However, few have done so in the way Giannis has, coming to the United States as a teenager, being adopted by the city and adopting the city himself. He brought Milwaukee its first NBA Championship in 50 years back in 2021 and has rewritten the franchise record book.
And, best of all, he wants to stay.
Milwaukee Bucks fans call out ESPN after Giannis Antetokounmpo squashes trade rumors
Dec 27, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) goes up for a dunk against the Chicago Bulls during the second half at United Center. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
For months, nay, years, Bucks fans have had to deal with national reporters spewing rumors and speculation that Giannis will eventually request a trade out of Milwaukee to go play in a bigger market. And given Milwaukee’s struggles so far this season, these rumors intensifed.
But following the loss to Golden State, Giannis got real with reporters from The Athletic and put any notion that he would request a trade to bed:
“There will never be a chance, and there will never be a moment that I will come out and say, ‘I want a trade.’ That’s not … in … my … nature. OK?
“I am not (going anywhere). 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.
“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.
“My plan is to be here for the rest of my career.”
And fans who have been fed up with the constant chatter from ESPN and other news outlets did some victory laps on social media:
Somehow. Shams is never first to break these stories. It’s very clear he and ESPN have an agenda to get GA out of Milwaukee. Only way to read into it at this point. https://t.co/rigjsoDD7E
— Cream City Crossover (@OnYourTsQs973) January 8, 2026
Well, well, well. This is interesting. Somehow @ShamsCharania missed this one? https://t.co/Stov8UvM2U
— Giannis Is Upon Us (@4ndrewBarnes) January 8, 2026
https://t.co/oANgPq94Kj pic.twitter.com/iyD9vMqMeh
— Nathan Marzion (@nathanmarzion) January 8, 2026
Come outside @ShamsCharania I just wanna talk https://t.co/HneQzdbvDj
— rcon14 (@rcon14) January 8, 2026
As one can see, the disdain of many Bucks fans was pointed at Shams Charania, the ESPN insider who has spearheaded the crusade to drive Giannis out of Milwaukee.
And, at least for now, Bucks fans can enjoy this victory in the midst of the team’s struggles.
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