The last Antetokounmpo added to the Bucks payroll

[He_Got_Game]

I'll play Devils advocate here and say that Thanasis is indeed an NBA level player. He's a freak athlete in his own right from what I've seen and he hustles and comes up with loose balls. You can't tell me he's not better than some of the end of the bench scrubs on other teams. I just don't believe that. There's always a place in the NBA for a highly athletic/energy/hustle player. Literally every team needs one.

[KGtabake]

Thanasis can play. 14th-15th guy or whatever.
Alex can't. He couldn't get minutes in the Greek League. He has no business in the NBA.
I don't know what the Bucks are doing.
If Giannis doesn't win, he will want out.
His brothers have nothing to do with any decision he decides to make.

[Bucks4005]

I'll play Devils advocate here and say that Thanasis is indeed an NBA level player. He's a freak athlete in his own right from what I've seen and he hustles and comes up with loose balls. You can't tell me he's not better than some of the end of the bench scrubs on other teams. I just don't believe that. There's always a place in the NBA for a highly athletic/energy/hustle player. Literally every team needs one.

Yea,,Thansis least has been an absolute freak athlete, at least coming out. Bball skills obviously lacking/don’t exist, but guy is a clear athletic specimen in the NBA and built like a tank. Like, I could have seen argument he’s being developed as a defensive stopper early in his career at least. I mean, obviously that’s not why he’s on the Bucks, but I could have at least understood the why he’s on a roster.

[Mirotic12]

PAOK played in the 4th tier European league, the fourth tier level, and Alex was the worst player on the team.

Lol, for years you've been literally spending thousands of hours on the internet forums to educate people on superiority of european basketball, and how much european leagues are better than others - yet it took seconds for you to make PAOK "playing in 4th tier league" when it comes to support your argument.

Sorry Greek brother, you can't even fool US fans - Greek League is still one of the best in Europe, and way better than G-league or D1... and playing at 4th tier European League still means you had a decent rank in your national league. Try again.

For comparison, it is like downplaying Crystal Palace FC of the Premier League such that "they're playing in 3rd tier European League, the third tier level" (Europeean Conference League), even though the market value of their roster is more than five top MLS teams combined.

You can just say I am an irrational team x fan who irrationally hate PAOK and Antetokunmpo family because of some irrational rivalry. That's ok. Otherwise you should convince us Kevin Porter Jr, one of the best players who played at overseas last year, irrationally chose a team that plays for 4th tier level.

Anyways, this is clearly an example of nepotism, but it's a price they're willing to pay him to keep him in Milwaukee. Without spending an actual roster spot. So why not?

Alex couldn't even get any playing time in Greece. He was glued to the bench his whole time in Greece.

These are very easily verifiable facts. Shall we take a look at Alex's stats in Greece?

[Mirotic12]

I'll play Devils advocate here and say that Thanasis is indeed an NBA level player. He's a freak athlete in his own right from what I've seen and he hustles and comes up with loose balls. You can't tell me he's not better than some of the end of the bench scrubs on other teams. I just don't believe that. There's always a place in the NBA for a highly athletic/energy/hustle player. Literally every team needs one.

Thanasis was Panathinaikos' 12th man in EuroLeague.

He was a 12th man in EuroLeague.

The chances of him being in the NBA if he wasn't Giannis' brother are zero.

Now to compare Thanasis to Alex, Thanasis is light years better. Alex just sat on the bench the whole time he was playing in Greece with PAOK and Aris, which are much worse teams than Panathinaikos and that also play in clearly worse continental leagues than Panathinaikos does.

[og15]

The Bucks are lucky that Giannis's dad doesn't want to play in the NBA right now. If he does, he will be on the team possibly as a starter.

Bad joke since their dad passed

[ChuckChilly]

So its ok for a player to request their team to trade for or sign a player, just as long as they're not related to them?

[Packbuckman]

They are pulling out ALL the stops (outside of fielding a decent roster) to keep Giannis in Milwaukee!

What a tired take. Bet the house on the over this season. We're gonna surprise a lot of people.

I was being a bit silly/snarky, but we have to be real about this roster.

Rough (functional) roster outline:
Kevin Porter Jr. / Cole Anthony / Ryan Rollins
AJ Green / Gary Harris / Andre Jackson Jr.
Gary Trent Jr. / Taurean Prince / Amir Coffey
Giannis Antetokounmpo / Kyle Kuzma / Thanasis Antetokounmpo
Myles Turner / Bobby Portis / Jericho Sims

The Myles Turner pickup was massive for bolstering a defensive identity and surrounding Giannis with shooters, but if we are being honest, this team doesn't have the sauce to win a title as-is, and the team is capped out asset-wise. Outside of getting multiple swaps deep, literally the only tradeable pick is a 2026 (31-55 Protected) Utah SRP. The Damian Lillard waive-and-stretch (which I defend) also puts them in a weird position of not really having trade-able contracts, assuming that Giannis and Turner are being kept.

You don’t even have our players in the right spots for depth Gary Harris won’t even play unless in blow outs Cole and Rollins will be first two guards off the bench Rollins is going to have a break out yr he’s 6’3 with a 6’10 wing span our guards are so under rated and our shooting the 3 we were number one last yr in percentage we will shoot more 3’s this year and turner is a big upgrade as a shooter too plus being younger and more mobile. This team will win over 50 games this year.

[316Hornets]

Who wins the 3 James vs. 3 Ante

[knicksfan974]

Such a weak move, one can just hope that other stars don't start making such demands. Would hate to see more players who absolutely don't deserve it take up much coveted NBA roster spots, just because of nepotism.

[DaPessimist]

Why is this not considered cap circumvention? It's essentially just paying Giannis's family instead of paying him directly.

[jokeboy86]

You would hope the Bucks have already promised Giannis an ownership stake once he retires. This also goes to show that the Bucks are deathly afraid of life after Giannis on the court and probably off the court as well. They must really think the bottom is going to fall out as far as fan/local interest.

[Myth]

Hope all the people complaining about bronny put equal energy into this

Both cases are equally pathetic.

In reality, neither Broonie, nor Kostas nor Alex belong even in G league, let alone nba. Nepotism isn't helping Lakers / Bucks, it just puts stain on Giannis & Lebron's legacy as entitled spoiled brats who use power to manipulate teams , hindering chances of own team for winning ,because those guys are nothing but wasted roster spots.

Bronny averaged 23/6/6 with 2 steals on 59.1 TS% in the G-League, he actually does belong there, so this is incorrect. Kostas also averaged 12/7 on 58% FG in his two G-League seasons, so yes, both of those guys are clearly G-League level players, Alex on the other hand has not shown himself to be a pro quality player, but this is also a two way contract, so who cares.

That’s an interesting rounding up job, but in general your point is valid.

[jokeboy86]

Such a weak move, one can just hope that other stars don't start making such demands. Would hate to see more players who absolutely don't deserve it take up much coveted NBA roster spots, just because of nepotism.

If you ask Giannis he'll tell you he's never forced the Bucks to sign his brothers and I actually believe him. I genuinely think you have a small time general manager in addition to panicky ownership that are trying to constantly come up with ways to appease their meal ticket and the prime reason the franchise has been relevant for the longest period of time since the 80s. If you trace the Bucks moves since the Giannis FA talks started years ago it seems like the GM has been just throwing s*** at the wall hoping it pleases Giannis every year. Bucks organization has been guessing because Giannis constantly is talking in a stream of consciousness every year. It's been time to move on for both parties. This is the main reason that I love the way that Pat Riley runs the Heat. Riley is confident in his own abilities to build a winning team so he's never going to let any star player run the entire organization and their operations.

[MartyConlonOnTheRun]

This is the same thing as paying Kawhi under the table. Ridiculous

It's not even close to that. KL got paid millions outside the rules of the cap. The bucks are paying Alex a salary that is within the CBA and takes up a second class roster spot. Not even remotely the same thing.

[Sofia]

When the season review said “we need to get rid of soft Brook Lopez and get some hard Hutton’ brothers on the team”, I think the Bucks misunderstood.

[MartyConlonOnTheRun]

Why not Kostas too?

He does have a fourth brother, but that guy’s a professional soccer player, so he probably doesn’t want to play for the Bucks.

Kostas wasn't eligible for the two-way and has a no opt out contract in Europe.

[OrlandoMagic198]

Bucks are desperate to keep Giannis so Bucks added Giannis’s brothers to the team so I do not blame the Bucks

[stillgotgame]

Such a weak move, one can just hope that other stars don't start making such demands. Would hate to see more players who absolutely don't deserve it take up much coveted NBA roster spots, just because of nepotism.

Yep, pretty soon players will want their Dad to be a coach on their team.
Oh, wait

[LuDux1]

Why not Kostas too?

He does have a fourth brother, but that guy’s a professional soccer player, so he probably doesn’t want to play for the Bucks.

https://www.milwaukeeprosoccer.com/news/milwaukee-pro-soccer-to-begin-play-in-usl-in-2026