Today is the NBA trade deadline and the Milwaukee Bucks are believed to be disinterested and unwilling to move two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo. Despite persistent rumors over the last few months (years, really), that the ten-time All-Star would force his way out of Milwaukee, the Bucks and Giannis have repeatedly stated that they are committed to each other.
Indeed, all of the smoke surrounding Giannis in trade rumors is dissipating quickly. As the morning as gone on, more and more reports come out of teams bowing out of trade negotiations, stating that they do not believe the Bucks are serious about trading the best player in their franchise’s history.
And while that is good news for Bucks fans, the national media is pivoting to another rumor that is nearly equally outrageous.
Milwaukee Bucks fans react to reports team will shut down Giannis Antetokounmpo
Jan 13, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) reacts in the second quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
Giannis, unfortunately, has been injured for a large portion of this season. He missed most of December with a calf strain, and is currently out indefinitely due to another calf injury.
With the Bucks 20-29 on the season and in a position to possibly get a lottery pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, ESPN is now claiming that Milwaukee will shutdown their star player for the rest of the season and reassess their roster in the summer.
And Bucks fans are not buying it:
People really think they gonna shut him down lol https://t.co/b8c8MzJswJ
— 🏀💚🤍Brooke (fan account) (@_Brooke22) February 5, 2026
Reported for spreading false information https://t.co/WpUQRiwEIV
— Bucks Lead (@BucksLead) February 5, 2026
Things that will never happen. Giannis runs that team. They won’t do that.
— chudyj22 (@chudyj22) February 5, 2026
That’s not true lmao
— lilbabycbfw (@lilbabycbfw4) February 5, 2026
There is no question that, when Giannis gets healthy, he will be playing on a strict minutes restriction. What is not going to happen, though, is that Milwaukee would shut him down for the year.
That would be something the team would do if they wanted to create division between themselves and their star player.
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