Giannis Antetokounmpo's future with the Milwaukee Bucks seems to be in serious doubt. For the third year in a row, they were eliminated in the first round of the NBA playoffs, and their prospects look weak for the foreseeable future.
Nine-time All-Star guard Damian Lillard, who was supposed to be the missing piece for Milwaukee when he arrived in a big trade prior to last season, tore his Achilles during the playoffs. Furthermore, the rest of the team's roster is aging, and it lacks the trade assets it needs to reload.
Antetokounmpo is at the peak of his individual powers, and a recent social media post revealed that he has scored more points than any other NBA player over the last 10 seasons. Lillard shared that post on his Instagram account.
Damian Lillard shares an image highlighting Giannis Antetokounmpo's scoring stats over the last 10 seasons.
Damian Lillard/Instagram
In two seasons with the Bucks, Lillard averaged 24.6 points and 7.0 assists a game. But he missed the last few weeks of this year's regular season after being diagnosed with a blood clot before tearing his Achilles.
They had traded the aging Khris Middleton at midseason for Kyle Kuzma in an attempt to get younger and more athletic. But it simply wasn't anywhere close to enough.
Antetokounmpo, the two-time league MVP, averaged 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, 6.5 assists and 1.2 blocks a game during the regular season. He won an NBA championship in 2021, and at age 30, time is running out for him to be put in a situation where he can win at least one more ring.
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34)
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34)
© Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
Just days ago, ESPN's Shams Charania reported that Antetokounmpo is "open-minded about exploring whether his best long-term fit is remaining in Milwaukee or playing elsewhere." But it remains to be seen if the superstar actually becomes available on the market this summer.