The future of Giannis Antetokounmpo with the Milwaukee Bucks was discussed earlier in the season when they started the season slowly. While the Bucks have largely recovered and are playing competitive basketball, they are currently fifth in the Eastern Conference and closer to the Play-In than they are to the top-3.
"Everyone knows Giannis loves the Bucks, but I'm here to tell you he loves winning more," said Shams Charania. "That's why everyone within that Bucks' organization, they know what's at stake this season. They know the pressure and every summer when Giannis looks around and he looks at the Bucks' current roster, he looks at sustained long-term winning. Where will he be able to find that?
"He has said publicly, on the record, if he feels like that's not attainable anymore in Milwaukee, he will look elsewhere. But of course he has tried always to make everything work in Milwaukee."
Milwaukee has yet to return to the Conference Finals since they won the championship in 2021 though an injury to Khris Milddleton hurt their chance in 2022 followed by Antetokounmpo's injuries in 2023 and 2024.
"They've gotten bounced early in the playoffs and so they need to they do need to get back to that level to show Giannis that they're building something sustainable. Building something long-term," added Charania.
"When you talk to people around the Bucks, there's no sense that Giannis has unrest," said Brian Windhorst. "He is 100 percent focused every day on this team. He has shown no signs of being anything but trying to pour everything into it. And I think other than that, you're making a projection."
Antetokounmpo, who has a player option for 27-28 and is represented by Alex Saratsis and Jeff Austin, signed his most recent extension in October 2023 following the Bucks' trade for Damian Lillard.
