It is hard to believe, but Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo is entering the 10th season of his NBA career. He has come a long way since being selected 15th overall in the 2013 NBA Draft as a skinny kid from Greece.
As he enters his prime years turning 28 in December, Antetokounmpo has cemented himself as one of the best players not only in the NBA but the entire world. He is virtually unguardable offensively with his combination of skill and size and uses that to his advantage as well defensively.
The Bucks have become perennial contenders with Antetokounmpo ascending to superstardom. He helped Milwaukee win the NBA Finals in 2021 over the Phoenix Suns and remains as hungry to win as ever despite already reaching the mountaintop.
This offseason we have already seen him putting in a ton of work to improve his jump shot. That is the one thing opponents can try and exploit as Antetokounmpo is sometimes shaky shooting the ball, but he works tirelessly on improving.
Should that occur, opponents will be in even more trouble. He is already difficult to slow down, evident by the 29.9 points per game that he averaged last season. If the videos of him knocking down jumpers in workouts this offseason translate to the regular season, watch out.
Is there a chance that his dominance could occur in another city down the road? In a recent interview with Fox 32 Chicago, Antetokounmpo left the door open about one day leaving the Bucks and joining the Chicago Bulls.
“I think anybody you ask that question that plays basketball, if he said no, he’d be a liar,” Antetokounmpo said in the interview with Fox 32 Chicago. “It’s a team that won multiple championships; it’s a team that one of the greatest players, if not the greatest player to ever play this game, played for. So it’s a no-brainer; everybody would love to play for Chicago.
“Down the line, you never know. You never know how life brings it, maybe I play for Chicago,” Antetokounmpo said. “But right now I’m committed to Milwaukee.”
Giannis is under contract with the Bucks through 2025. He has a player option for the 2025-26 season worth nearly $52 million, which if history is any indication, he will decline to maximize his earnings on a new long-term deal.
At that point, Antetokounmpo will qualify for the same type of deal that Bradley Beal did with the Washington Wizards. Passing up that kind of money and the added perks would certainly be difficult, but teams will try their best to convince Antetokounmpo that their city is the best place for him to be.
Latest NBA News & Trade Rumors: Milwaukee Bucks
- Giannis Antetokounmpo Reveals Pick For World’s Best Player
- 1 Major Obstacle In Celtics-Nets Trade Talks For Kevin Durant
- Raptors, Heat, Celtics Remain Interested In Kevin Durant Trade
For the latest surrounding Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks, check out our NBA news and trade rumors feed.
