Against all expectations, Giannis Antetokounmpo remained with the Milwaukee Bucks. Over the last two months, it seemed he was steadily moving closer to a departure, as reports of his dissatisfaction surfaced and the team reportedly shopped their star.
Ultimately, Milwaukee chose to delay any decision and push potential trade talks into the offseason.
One analyst argues that Antetokounmpo may have missed his chance to force a move from Milwaukee. Bill Simmons warned that the Greek superstar could look back and regret not formally requesting a trade, citing Kevin Garnett’s early 2000s experience as a case study for why Giannis might have gained from taking a firmer approach.
Bill Simmons’ take on Giannis Antetokounmpo staying with the Bucks
Feb 6, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) holds his 2-year-old daughter, Eva, as he received congratulations from teammates for being named to the NBA All-Star before game against the Indiana Pacers at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
“They had to trade him and yet they didn’t have to trade him because it made more sense for them as a franchise to wait till this summer when more teams can be in it,” Simmons remarked in his podcast’s latest episode.
“But it didn’t make more sense for him to wait. I just don’t get it. If I were him I would’ve talked to a bunch of older retired stars that were in fairly similar situations to this. Including KG, I would’ve called KG. Be like, ‘Hey KG, if you had to do that over again, would you have waited until the summer of 2007 to really kind of open the door to a trade? Or would you have done that a year or two sooner?’ Guess what KG would’ve said? I would’ve done that as soon as I knew I had no future with that team.”
The Giannis – KG comparison
Feb 4, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) during warmups prior to the game against the New Orleans Pelicans at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
The comparison is not an exact match. Garnett grew restless in Minnesota largely because the Timberwolves consistently fell short in the postseason. While the Bucks have struggled in recent seasons, they still point to the 2021 title as proof of what they once achieved.
That championship likely plays a major role in why Antetokounmpo has not pushed for a trade, as he is not searching for his first ring with the same urgency that defined Garnett’s situation.
Jan 23, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) during the game against the Denver Nuggets at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
Even so, Antetokounmpo has repeatedly said his commitment to Milwaukee depends on the team staying competitive. This season has not met that standard. The Bucks sit at 21-29 and are trending toward missing the playoffs altogether. At best, they could sneak into the Play In Tournament, only to fall there or bow out quickly in the first round. That path hardly reflects a team capable of contending in any meaningful way.