Giannis Antetokounmpo recently admitted that he would leave the Milwaukee Bucks if there’s a better situation to win an NBA championship.
The Bucks won the 2021 title over the Phoenix Suns but lost in the second round of the 2022 playoffs to the Boston Celtics and lost to the Miami Heat in the first round of the 2023 playoffs. Antetokounmpo doesn’t want to spend his entire career with Milwaukee and not win another championship.
Antetokounmpo told Tania Ganguli of The New York Times that he will not sign an extension with the Bucks this year. The two-time MVP became eligible for a contract extension in September.
“The real question’s not going to be this year — numbers-wise it doesn’t make sense,” Antetokounmpo said. “But next year, next summer it would make more sense for both parties. Even then, I don’t know.”
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks Updates
Antetokounmpo added: “I would not be the best version of myself if I don’t know that everybody’s on the same page, everybody’s going for a championship, everybody’s going to sacrifice time away from their family like I do. And if I don’t feel that, I’m not signing.”
The Bucks signed Antetokounmpo to a five-year, $228.2 million designated maximum contract extension in December 2020. The future Hall of Famer will make $45.6 million next season.
One of the greatest players in NBA history, Antetokounmpo has career averages of 22.6 points, 9.6 rebounds and 4.7 assists. He has won the Most Improved Player of the Year Award, two regular-season MVPs, one Finals MVP and one Defensive Player of the Year Award with the Bucks.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks Updates
The Los Angeles Lakers and the New York Knicks are already being mentioned as franchises presumed to interest Antetokounmpo down the road if he does decide to move on from the Bucks, according to NBA insider Marc Stein.
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