The Houston Rockets have long shown a willingness to chase the biggest names in the league, and Milwaukee Bucks superstar forward, Giannis Antetokounmpo now appears to be the next superstar they could be monitoring closely.
Over the years, Houston has built a reputation for pursuing elite talent, landing or attempting to land players such as Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook, Dwight Howard, Kevin Durant, James Harden, Carmelo Anthony, Tracy McGrady and John Wall, even if some arrived later in their careers.
That aggressive approach has not slowed in recent seasons. It most recently resulted in the Rockets bringing in Durant on a massive two year deal shortly after a major trade, reinforcing the organization’s comfort with bold, win now moves.
Even when opportunities did not materialize with players like Trae Young, Harden or Ja Morant, Houston has continued to keep an eye on the next available star.
Giannis Antetokounmpo’s fit with the Rockets
Feb 25, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) defends against Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun (28) during the fourth quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
Antetokounmpo fits that profile, and the Rockets are widely viewed as a potential dark horse if his situation in Milwaukee becomes more unstable. Matt Moore of the Action Network noted that while many around the league expect Giannis to remain with the Bucks through the deadline before a possible summer move, a team willing to make an aggressive offer could speed up that process, with Houston seen as the most likely candidate.
The Rockets have tracked Antetokounmpo for years, much like their past pursuits of Joel Embiid, Paul George and Devin Booker. For Milwaukee, this is familiar territory. Questions about Giannis’ long term future tend to resurface nearly every offseason, often pushing the franchise to make major roster decisions in an effort to stay competitive around him.
Dec 11, 2022; Houston, Texas, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) joins players and fans in taking a moment of silence for Paul Silas, the father of Houston Rockets head coach Stephen Silas, who died before the start of the game at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports
Those moves have produced mixed results. Trading for Jrue Holiday helped Antetokounmpo deliver the franchise’s second championship in 2021, while the later acquisition of Damian Lillard failed to lead to sustained postseason success. With the Bucks sitting at 17-23 and 11th in the Eastern conference, recent additions such as Kyle Kuzma and Myles Turner have not significantly changed the outlook.
That context keeps the spotlight on Antetokounmpo and the direction of the Bucks, while also raising the question of whether a team like Houston could eventually position itself to make a serious run at the Greek superstar.