Shams Charania of ESPN reported on Monday that two-time MVP and one-time Finals MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo is open to leaving the Milwaukee Bucks, who have won only one postseason series since winning the 2021 championship against the Phoenix Suns in six games.
Antetokounmpo, 30, does not have a no-trade clause in his contract. The future Hall of Famer averaged 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 0.9 steals and 1.2 blocks this season.
With Antetokounmpo trade rumors heating up, some have wondered what the swingman has been doing since Charania's report dropped.
According to Sam Amick of The Athletic, Antetokounmpo "has been in fact-finding mode."
"For the sake of fairness to Giannis, let’s reiterate one key detail here: He hasn’t asked out yet. League sources say he has been in fact-finding mode, discussing his situation with trusted confidantes while making it clear that he’s reading the room here," Amick wrote. "This is not a one-foot-out-the-door situation. Not yet, anyway."
Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo
Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo
Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
The Bucks won 48 games this season but lost to the Indiana Pacers in the first round of the playoffs in five games.
Indiana beat Milwaukee in the first round of the 2024 postseason as well.
Antetokounmpo signed a three-year, $175 million extension with the Bucks in October 2023. The Greek Freak will make $54.1 million next season.
Considered one of the best players in NBA history, Antetokounmpo is a two-time MVP, a one-time Finals MVP, a one-time Defensive Player of the Year and a nine-time All-Star. He has spent his entire career with the Bucks.
The superstar forward has career averages of 23.9 points, 9.9 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.2 blocks.
"But from my vantage point, it seems the bread crumbs were laid out in a pretty unmistakable manner these past few years," Amick wrote. "Every time there was a choice to be made about his future, and a contract negotiation tied to it, Horst was able to make the kind of move that, in essence, made his decision for him. That’s just not an option this time around."