A number of people who worked closely with Giannis Antetokounmpo already made efforts to put down rumors that the Milwaukee Bucks superstar wants to go play somewhere else.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks, Dwight Howard
Oct 22, 2022; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) mean mugs to the audience after powering his way to the basket and being fouled by a Houston Rockets player in the first quarter at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-USA TODAY Sports
The latest from a known NBA insider suggests the organization feels the same way about the player. They want him to be with them until he retires.
“The Bucks, league sources say, remain hopeful Antetokounmpo will decide against asking to be dealt after a third successive first-round playoff exit and choose instead to extend a career that has spanned 12 seasons as a Buck to date,” Marc Stein said in his latest report for published May 20.
The report comes at the heels of news that Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks front office are set to have a meeting to discuss the future of the team.
Milwaukee Bucks, Jon Horst, NBA
Jan 27, 2024; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Doc Rivers (right) speaks at a press conference with general manager Jon Horst as Rivers is introduced as the new head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks at the Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Before that, Shams Charania reported that for the first time, Antetokounmpo is being open-minded and is ready to entertain the idea that he will play somewhere that is not Milwaukee.
Giannis Antetokounmpo’s 8-year-old tweet about loyalty
Former Buck Patrick Beverley recently quashed rumors about Giannis leaving saying the two-time MVP is a loyal player.
“He’s loyal. We speak about loyalty when it comes to basketball … It’s much bigger than that [for Giannis]. A team, you know, got his family to come to the United States,” he said in his own podcast.
Milwaukee Bucks, Giannis Antetokounmpo
Jul 8, 2021; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) and center Bobby Portis (9) with head coach Mike Budenholzer against the Phoenix Suns in game two of the 2021 NBA Finals at Phoenix Suns Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Antetokounmpo’s current teammate Bobby Portis, one of the four players left from 2021 title-winning team, also said in an interview a week ago that the Greek Freak is looking to end his career with the team that drafted him.
All of these are consistent with Antetokounmpo has been saying. In 2017, he posted on X about his loyalty, referencing Kendrick Lamar’s song.
I got loyalty inside my DNA 🦌
— Giannis Antetokounmpo (@Giannis_An34) July 7, 2017
Those were not just words as he signed huge contract extensions after one another. One of it was signed shortly after the team’s painful exit in 2020. He was there when things were not going right. That’s loyalty.
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