Giannis Antetokounmpo reaffirmed his dedication to the Milwaukee Bucks while expressing his ambition to win, aiming for a second championship to accompany the one he secured in 2021.
“As of today, I’m committed to the Milwaukee Bucks,” Antetokounmpo stated in an interview with ESPN’s Malika Andrews during NBA All-Star Weekend. “I’m committed to the people I collaborate with, my teammates, the coaching staff, Coach Doc [Rivers], and [GM] Jon [Horst] in management.”
“What I’ve communicated from the start of this season is that, based on my words and the way I carry myself, you’ll never hear me say I don’t want to be a Milwaukee Buck.”
Sources informed ESPN’s Shams Charania before the February 5 NBA trade deadline that Antetokounmpo had been open to a change of scenery for months, whether it was during the season or in the offseason, and that the Bucks had fielded offers for the two-time MVP.
No trades were finalized—even with interest from teams like the Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat, and Minnesota Timberwolves—and discussions about a potential deal are anticipated this offseason, sources revealed.
In the face of future uncertainties, Antetokounmpo has publicly affirmed his loyalty to the Bucks. After the trade deadline, he shared a post on Instagram saying, “Legends don’t chase. They attract,” accompanied by an expletive-laced clip from “The Wolf of Wall Street,” where Leonardo DiCaprio’s character asserts he’s not leaving his job.
also, he told The Athletic in January, “There will never be a moment when I’ll come out and say, ‘I want a trade.'”
yet, during his conversation with Andrews, Antetokounmpo reflected on childhood dreams of playing for other teams.
“Growing up, you dream, ‘Oh, what if I played for the Knicks, at Madison Square Garden? What if I get drafted by the Lakers and am teammates with Kobe? What if I play for the Cavs and LeBron passes me the ball?'” he shared, noting that he has considered how he would fit with recent NBA championship-winning teams such as the Oklahoma City Thunder and Boston Celtics.
The Bucks are set to resume play after the All-Star break with a record of 23-30, placing them 12th in the Eastern Conference. Antetokounmpo hasn’t played since January 23 due to a strained right calf, though Rivers indicated last week that the Bucks have no plans to bench their star player.
Antetokounmpo was named an All-Star but will not participate in Sunday’s first U.S. vs. World format.
When asked by Andrews to reflect on the Bucks’ 2020-21 NBA championship, Antetokounmpo compared the experience to savoring a delectable steak, emphasizing that he craves another opportunity for a title.
“You want that steak again,” he remarked.
At the same time, Antetokounmpo wants to make it clear that he hasn’t given up on the Bucks, asserting to Andrews, “This is my team, and I love it.”
