On Wednesday, ESPN senior NBA insider Shams Charania reported that Giannis Antetokounmpo is now ready to be traded by the Milwaukee Bucks. The news immediately sparked a wave of trade speculation, with multiple teams believed to have the assets needed to put together a competitive offer for the two-time MVP.
The Golden State Warriors have emerged as a key focus in trade discussions, thanks to their roster and significant draft capital, which could appeal to the Bucks’ management.
The thought of pairing a generational talent like Giannis Antetokounmpo with the Warriors ignited a wave of buzz in the Bay Area, but veteran star Stephen Curry kept expectations in check, saying the team hasn’t seriously entertained those trade rumors.
Stephen Curry on the Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Warriors rumors
Mar 6, 2024; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) dribbles past Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) in the third quarter at the Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
“I think our job is to keep winning games and keeping, you know, our energy as high as we can around here. We’re not ignorant to what’s going on around the league — rumors and trade talks and who’s on the block and all that type of stuff. So, I know what’s going on. But right now it’s just about trying to continue to win, ’cause if we lose sight of that on the court, you know, all that other stuff doesn’t really matter,” Curry commented during his post-game availability.
Curry’s remarks come at a crucial moment for Golden State as they aim to stay competitive in the later stages of his remarkable career. At 37, he remains one of the league’s top players and a presence every defender dreads losing track of.
Mar 7, 2021; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Team LeBron guard Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors (30) and Team LeBron forward Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks (34) before the 2021 NBA All-Star Game at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
After a challenging stretch that included losing star wing Jimmy Butler to a season-ending ACL injury and facing a tense matchup in Minnesota, the Warriors appeared to regain their footing with a commanding 140-124 victory over the Utah Jazz, bringing their record on the road trip to an even 2-2.
The Warriors superstar is aware of all the excitement about a potential pairing with one of the most dominant players in league history, Antetokounmpo. Yet, until anything is official, it remains just speculation. On that note, Curry said he avoids entertaining hypotheticals, calling it a “waste of time.”