Draymond Green, Warriors
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Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors defends against Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks.
As Giannis Antetokounmpo laughed off the growing trade buzz, Draymond Green offered a far different perspective — revealing the strain the looming deadline has placed on the Golden State Warriors’ locker room.
With the Feb. 5 NBA trade deadline approaching, speculation surrounding Antetokounmpo has intensified across the league. Yet the contrast between the Milwaukee Bucks superstar’s public demeanor and the reality facing the Warriors has been striking.
Giannis Uses Humor to Deflect Trade Speculation
Amid mounting trade chatter, Antetokounmpo appeared unfazed, leaning into the moment with humor on Instagram.
The two-time NBA MVP posted a tongue-in-cheek pitch suggesting himself as a potential ambassador for Trojan condoms, referencing recent meme-driven endorsement deals involving Kevin Durant’s CeraVe campaign and Kendall Jenner’s Fanatics Sportsbook commercial — both of which leaned into viral internet narratives.
“Kevin Durant secured a CeraVe endorsement deal. Kendall Jenner recently signed an endorsement deal with Fanatics,” Antetokounmpo said in his Instagram story. “Trojan, what’s up? I’m curious to see if your product works.”
Giannis Trojan
HeavyMilwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo has some jokes amid the trade buzz.
Antetokounmpo followed the post with mock-up images depicting himself in fictional Trojan advertisements, a lighthearted response that stood in sharp contrast to the seriousness of the rumors surrounding his future.
Giannis Trojan mockup ads
HeavyMilwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo posts mockups of Trojan ads starring himself.
Bucks Begin Listening, But Remain Patient
The jokes come as Antetokounmpo remains at the center of the most consequential trade speculation of the NBA season.
According to ESPN insider Shams Charania, the Bucks have begun listening to offers for their franchise cornerstone.
“Two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo is ready for a new home ahead of the Feb. 5 trade deadline, as several teams have made aggressive offers to the Milwaukee Bucks, who are starting to listen,” Charania reported Wednesday.
Charania added that Milwaukee is under no immediate pressure to act.
“Multiple teams have received a sense that the Bucks are more open than ever to Antetokounmpo offers between now and the deadline,” he wrote. “However, Milwaukee has indicated to interested teams that the organization is not in a rush to complete a move and is willing to navigate Antetokounmpo’s future in the offseason if its believed price point of a blue-chip young talent and/or a surplus of draft picks isn’t met.”
Antetokounmpo, 31, becomes eligible to sign a four-year, $275 million supermax extension on Oct. 1. Without an extension, he could become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2027 by declining a $62.8 million player option.
Draymond Green Speaks Candidly on Trade Deadline Stress
While Antetokounmpo joked publicly, the mood inside Golden State has been far more tense.
Warriors forward Draymond Green, who has been mentioned in multiple reports as a possible component of any Warriors pursuit of Antetokounmpo, acknowledged the emotional toll of trade season.
“As of yesterday, everybody’s talking Giannis. Do the Warriors make a trade for Giannis? This is not the podcast where you find that out,” Green said Friday on The Draymond Green Show. “I actually don’t have a [expletive] clue. I have no idea. I know what you know — exactly what I saw in red.”
Green said his understanding of the situation mirrors public reporting.
“I did see that Giannis is preparing for an exit from Milwaukee,” Green said. “Whether that’s at the deadline or the offseason, apparently, it’s inevitable and it’s going to happen.”
‘It’s a Very Stressful Time’
Beyond the rumors themselves, Green said the human side of trade season is often overlooked.
“Quite honestly, I think it’s a tough time,” Green said. “The stress levels are high. And then let’s look at another perspective: guys that you’ve grown relationships with, that you’ve possibly spent multiple years with — they’re now gone, just like that.”
“You go from seeing them every day to not seeing them at all,” he added. “And all of that stuff, man, it takes its toll. It’s not a fun time.”
Green, who has spent his entire 14-year career with Golden State, said longevity offers no guarantees.
“There’s never a way to be so certain unless you’ve got a no-trade clause,” Green said. “I’ve had a trade kicker for years. There’s still no way to be certain, because it’s just money. They’ll pay the money if it makes the team better.”
“It’s not a fun time,” Green concluded. “It’s a very stressful time for NBA players — and NBA players’ families.”
As Antetokounmpo continues to laugh through the speculation, the Warriors — and much of the league — brace for a deadline that could reshape the NBA landscape.