Many expected Giannis Antetokounmpo to be the marquee name at the 2026 NBA trade deadline, but that scenario never materialized as the deadline came and went without a deal. While Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks made it through Thursday’s cutoff untouched, his future in Cream City remains far from settled.
Even with the situation in Milwaukee growing increasingly complex, Fox Sports’ Nick Wright offered a different lens on the Bucks’ dynamic with their franchise star, breaking it down through a funny analogy.
.@getnickwright doesn’t blame the Bucks for not trading Giannis now, but…
“I am disappointed as a basketball fan that it’s just another wasted year for Giannis.” pic.twitter.com/MLDg5B9ee1
— First Things First (@FTFonFS1) February 5, 2026
“It feels like two people that are not getting divorced because of the kids, except that the kids are 28 and 35 and really don’t care. I think Bucks fans at this point are over it. Like you fight every Christmas, we know you sleep in separate rooms. You don’t have to keep the facade going,” Wright remarked during his appearance in First Things First.
Are the Bucks and Giannis Antetokounmpo still parting ways?
Jan 23, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) looks on during the second quarter against the Denver Nuggets at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
The Bucks and Giannis Antetokounmpo increasingly resemble a partnership drifting toward an inevitable split. Since capturing the NBA title in 2021, Milwaukee has failed to advance beyond the second round, suffering first-round exits in each of the past three postseasons. This year’s struggles have only deepened the concern, with the Bucks sitting 12th in the Eastern Conference and currently outside the play-in picture if the season ended today.
Antetokounmpo has never wavered from his goal of winning another NBA title, but the roster around him no longer reflects that ambition. Milwaukee has slowly stripped away the core pieces from its championship run, leaving a team that is nowhere near true contention this season. With no meaningful cap flexibility and little control over its draft capital until 2031, the Bucks and their franchise star now find themselves far apart in terms of direction and urgency.
Feb 4, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo looks on from the bench during the first quarter against the New Orleans Pelicans at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
The Greek Freak has not publicly asked out, and the Bucks have not come out and said they are ready to trade him. Still, the steady drumbeat of speculation has been hard to ignore. When the noise never dies down, it usually points to something real beneath the surface.
In Milwaukee’s case, even the fan base appears worn down by the constant uncertainty and ongoing drama.