For the first time in his 12-year career, the ‘Greek Freak’ is willing to consider options outside of Milwaukee. Giannis Antetokounmpo trade rumors started to percolate and swirl on Monday as a new report offered a glimpse of just how willing the Milwaukee Bucks All-World player and MVP would be for a potential move.
Antetokounmpo is “open-minded” about looking to continue his Hall of Fame career elsewhere should he decide that his time with the Bucks had run its course, ESPN reported. NBA teams were reportedly expected to ramp up talks with Milwaukee more frequently than they have been to check the organization’s status on how close they are to trading him.
No specific teams were named in the report, and it did not appear the Bucks were in current discussions to trading the one-time NBA champion in 2021 and two-time MVP. However, the team and Antetokounmpo’s representation were reportedly expected to talk about the future in the offseason.
The question about whether he would stay in Milwaukee loomed as soon as the Indiana Pacers eliminated the Bucks in the playoffs in a gentlemen’s sweep. He was asked in the immediate aftermath of the playoff loss whether he still believed he could win a second title with the Bucks.
“I’m not going to do this. I’m not going to do this,” Antetokounmpo said. “I know … whatever I say, I know how it’s going to translate. I don’t know, man. I wish I was still playing. I wish I was still competing and going back to Milwaukee. I don’t know.”
He still has two guaranteed years remaining on his contract in addition to a player option for the 2027-28 season.
Milwaukee did take a big swing in trying to build a superstar-laden team to get to that second title. The Bucks traded for Damian Lillard to team up with Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton.
Embed from Getty ImagesHowever, since the 2021 championship against the Phoenix Suns, the team has not made it back to the conference finals and has been eliminated from the postseason in the first round three consecutive times. The team has been unstable in the head coaching department, going from Mike Budenholzer to Adrian Griffin to Doc Rivers.
“Me not having a second championship — I look back at my career and everybody can say, ‘Oh, incredible career, active Hall of Famer, first ballot, whatever.’ But me, my personal goal, if I am not able to help my team win a second ring, I’m letting down myself,” Antetokounmpo said during an appearance with his brother, Thanasis Antetokounmpo, in April on the “Thanalysis Show” podcast.
The Brooklyn Nets, New Orleans Pelicans, San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets have all been named as potential suitors for the star player. The picture could become clearer once the NBA Draft Lottery shakes out after Monday night in Chicago.
Antetokounmpo, 30, is a nine-time All-Star who has been just as impactful on the franchise as Lew Alcindor/ Kareem Abdul Jabbar. During the 2024-25 season, he averaged 30.4 points and 11.9 rebounds per game and is an MVP finalist.
