The 2024-25 NBA season ended in disappointing for the Milwaukee Bucks and superstar forward Giannis Antetokounmpo. In the first round of the playoffs, the Bucks were swiftly eliminated in just five games by the Indiana Pacers.
While the Pacers have gone on to be just one win away from punching a ticket to the NBA Finals, the loss was a tough one to swallow.
Following the elimination, rumors have begun swirling about Antetokounmpo's future with the Bucks. He is reportedly "open-minded" to the idea of being traded away from Milwaukee. However, he has not requested a trade.
Antetokounmpo is the face of the Bucks. Seeing him playing anywhere else would be strange.
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Paul George, a fellow NBA star, spoke out on the situation recently during a segment on "Podcast P with Paul George" and dropped a major prediction for what he thinks the outcome will be.
"Giannis is of that old era cut. I think he wants to stay in Milwaukee for his whole career," George said. "I don't see him wanting to leave. You see that more so with the international guys. They kind of stay where they were drafted for the most part. They come from a different world. You come to America, they get treated royalty, king, all of that. Took care of my family. It's home. And I won here. It's a legacy thing with Giannis in Milwaukee. I don't think he wants to leave there."
That may be a correct assumption. Antetokounmpo may simply be frustrated by the lack of winning that has happened in Milwaukee since the team won the NBA Finals back in 2021.
Throughout his career with the Bucks, Antetokounmpo has played in 859 games and started in 794 of them. He has averaged 23.9 points, 9.9 rebounds, five assists, 1.2 blocks, and 1.1 steals.
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During the 2024-25 season, the "Greek Freak" averaged 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, 6.5 assists, and 1.2 blocks per game. He also shot 60.1 percent from the floor.
At 30 years old, Antetokounmpo's championship window may close quickly. He's not getting any younger and he's hungry for another ring. That may not come in Milwaukee.
Expect to continue hearing a lot of rumors surrounding his name entering the NBA offseason. Milwaukee may work something out with him to come back for the 2025-26 season, but the Bucks will need to put a winner on the floor to keep him for the rest of his career.
For more Milwaukee Bucks and general NBA news, head over to Newsweek Sports.
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This story was originally published May 28, 2025 at 11:58 AM.