Michael McLoone-USA TODAY Sports activities
Two-time league MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo made waves this week by overtly opining about his future with the Milwaukee Bucks, saying on a podcast that if there’s a staff that provides him a greater likelihood to win a championship sooner or later, he has to take that state of affairs:
“I am a Milwaukee Buck, however most significantly I am a winner. … If there’s a higher state of affairs for me to win the Larry O’Brien I’ve to take that higher state of affairs.”
Giannis on his future with the Bucks. pic.twitter.com/XzucRXtmOv
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) September 13, 2023
Regardless of the response on social media to Antetokounmpo’s feedback, Bucks teammate Khris Middleton didn’t appear fazed, saying that Antetokounmpo at all times makes some of these feedback when he’s up for an extension:
“I believe it’s sort of enterprise as common both approach,” Middleton instructed ESPN in a cellphone interview. “It doesn’t have an effect on me personally. I don’t suppose it impacts us as a staff. I believe that is one thing he stated nearly yearly he’s come up in contract extension talks.” “We at all times need him again for positive. Let’s be for positive and let everybody know that. We would like this man to come back again as a result of he’s the most effective gamers on this planet. He’s the most effective gamers in franchise historical past. So when he says issues like that, I believe he simply needs to problem the staff, the group, to maintain placing us in place to win championships.”
ESPN reporter Brian Windhorst, in the meantime, stated it’s ’50/50′ whether or not Antetokounmpo will stay a Buck for the long run:
Brian Windhorst on how seemingly it’s that Giannis Antetokounmpo is a member of the Bucks after his contract expires: I’d say proper now it’s 50/50 at greatest and I don’t suppose that’s new info, I believe the Bucks knew that already. They knew that even earlier than they bought knocked out out of the playoffs final 12 months. In case you take a look at the Bucks’ roster, which is primarily in its 30s, should you take a look at their asset base, which is depleted, and also you take a look at Giannis, who’s 28 years outdated, these are on totally different tracks. It’s not inconceivable they may pull some type of maneuver – and I don’t suppose any of this comes as a shock to the Bucks. I believe it’s uncomfortable that he’s being so public about it, I believe that is the best way it’s.
And ESPN’s Zach Lowe stated that Antetokounmpo’s feedback raised eyebrows across the league and might result in groups planning their future a bit of extra rigorously with the potential of Antetokounmpo being open to a transfer elsewhere:
Whereas Wojnarowski didn’t title any particular gamers, his ESPN colleague Zach Lowe adopted up on Woj’s level by immediately mentioning Bucks ahead Giannis Antetokounmpo and obliquely referencing Sixers heart Joel Embiid as properly. “Look, to not put it too baldly, however Giannis’ latest feedback have modified the panorama of the league, at the very least a bit of bit, and have had groups at the very least have the assembly of, ‘Wait a second, do we have to hold our powder dry if we expect we have now a one p.c, two p.c, 5 p.c (likelihood to accumulate him)?’” Lowe stated. “And by the best way, the Bucks might to not have commerce Giannis in any respect. They could win the title this 12 months, every thing’s high-quality, he indicators an extension. However these feedback, together with every thing occurring in Philly, have at the very least pressured you to have the assembly of, ‘Do we have to hold our powder dry?’”
A possible Antetokounmpo commerce is way down the road and – in actuality – fairly unlikely; the Bucks would most likely simply let him hit free company and attempt to persuade him to re-sign fairly than ever commerce arguably the very best participant of their franchise’s historical past.
However it’s a narrative to watch nonetheless.
For extra on the Giannis Antetokounmpo commerce entrance, click on right here.
