Even with the 2025 NBA playoffs in full swing, Giannis Antetokounmpo has stolen the spotlight in and around the basketball world. With the Milwaukee Bucks underachieving, being bounced from the first round of the playoffs by the Indiana Pacers, the rumor mill is spinning at full speed.
Per multiple reports, Antetokounmpo is open to exploring his best fit outside of the Bucks organization. This means Antetokounmpo will most likely find himself a new home prior the start of the 2025-26 NBA season. Major trade speculation and rumors have ramped up, and seemingly everyone is ready to predict Antetokounmpo's landing spot or give him unsolicited advice.
Former NBA player, Dwight Howard, chose the latter on Tuesday night. While making an appearance on "Inside the NBA" on TNT, Howard was asked to elaborate on his tweet from May 12 where he posted advice to Antetokounmpo on X.
"Don't leave Giannis coming from someone who been there," Howard posted to his official X account.
@NBAonTNT posted Tuesday night's video to their official X account after the conclusion of TNT's doubleheader.
"Stay solid. This is a big decision for him coming up, ya know, what he's going to do next in his career. He's been in Milwaukee forever, so just leaving is going to leave a sour taste in all the fan's mouth. Just stay put for a little bit Giannis," Howard said.
Howard is drawing on a situation he went through he feels was similar to Antetokounmpo's current predicament.
"I totally understand from the situation in Orlando what that would feel like," Howard said.
Howard spent the first eight years of his 18-year NBA-career with the Orlando Magic before joining the Los Angeles Lakers in 2012.
Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo
Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo
Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
Antetokounmpo has spent his entire 12-year-career with the Bucks. He's a two-time NBA MVP, winning his lone NBA championship in 2020-21 while being named the NBA Finals MVP.
While the Bucks have reached the playoffs in nine of Antetokounmpo's 12 seasons, they have failed to get past the first round since 2021-22 when they reached the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
This past season ended in disappointment with Damian Lillard's season being cut short due to injury. Head coach, Doc Rivers is already on the hot seat in Milwaukee after coaching just 118 games for the Bucks over the past two seasons.
Virtually every team is expected to be suitors in the Antetokounmpo sweepstakes, as he's one of the league's best players who's under contract for two more seasons before his player option kicks in ahead of the 2027-28 NBA season.