The Milwaukee Bucks are 21-29 on the season following their 105-99 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Friday night. Before the game, Giannis Antetokounmpo was honored by his teammates and fans for being named to the NBA All-Star Game for the tenth time in his career. Of course, this recognition meant more to fans than just celebrating an All-Star appearance.
They were celebrating the fact that Giannis is still in Milwaukee.
Leading up to the NBA trade deadline on Thursday, there had been a great deal of speculation around the league that Giannis wanted to be traded away from the Bucks. However, the trade deadline came and went, and Giannis is still in Milwaukee.
What is more, everything he has said publicly to the reporters that he does talk to, none of which work for ESPN, has only indicated that his desire is to stay where he is.
Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers thinks the media is trying to force Giannis Antetokounmpo out of town
Jan 23, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) walks the ball up court during the second quarter against the Denver Nuggets at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
In recent days, Bucks head coach Doc Rivers has gone viral for joking that Giannis told him he is considering trading Shams Charania, an ESPN reporter who has fueled trade rumors for years, off of the Celebrity Team the Greek Freak is coaching during All-Star weekend.
But on Friday night, Rivers got serious about the trade rumors and told reporters that he feels like the national media is trying to manifest Giannis out of Milwaukee:
Doc Rivers on the trade deadline being over and the buzz that surrounded Giannis:
“It bothered me, because it felt like the talk was people trying to manifest him out of Milwaukee.” pic.twitter.com/Gi1Cjvyhjz
— Jackson Gross (@JGrossReporter) February 7, 2026
This, of course, is the same thing that Bucks have been saying for years, not just over the last few months. The problem with the rumors that surround Giannis is that they do not come from him or Milwaukee’s organization. They just “stories” from unnamed “league sources” that the national media tout on their social media accounts.
And because they work for big companies like ESPN, the rumors are believed.
Meanwhile, Giannis himself says things like:
Let’s put the Bucks on the side for one second. Let’s talk about the city itself, the memories that I’ve created here. When you open my kids’ passports, it says Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I had four kids in the span of the last five years in this city.
“My dad is buried in this city. I’ve built a house for my mom 10 seconds away from my house. Literally, to walk to my mom’s front door, it takes me four seconds … right next door.
“On what planet, on what Earth, would somebody want to leave this?”
There are, of course, no guarantees in the NBA. Giannis may spend his entire career with the Bucks, or he may not. But for now he is on the team and his focus is on bringing another championship back to Milwaukee.
Make no mistake, though, the summer trade rumors have already begun. The narrative continues.
For More Great Wisconsin Sports Content
Follow me on Twitter at@theotherRobin19 and follow us@WiSportsHeroics for more great content. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in Wisconsin sports,click here!