A lot of the talk in the NBA world recently has revolved around Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo. Anyone who has listened to his interview in recent weeks came away thinking one thing; his future in Milwaukee is certainly up in the air.
Antetokounmpo has made his aspirations and goals clear; he wants te vie for and win NBA Championships. Whether that comes with the Bucks or another franchise is anyone’s guess as he is keeping his options open.
“I’m a Milwaukee Buck. But most importantly, I’m a winner. I want to win,” Antetokounmpo said earlier this month on the 48 Minutes podcast. “And I have to do whatever it takes for me to win. And if there’s a better situation for me to win the Larry O’Brien, I have to take that better situation.”
Antetokoumpo is set to become a free agent in 2025. But, as we have seen with superstars around the NBA, if they want a change of scenery sooner, they almost always get it. All-Stars and All-NBA level performers have been on the move constantly in recent years in the ever-shifting landscape of the league.
The Greek Freak has not hidden his feelings, as he has let it be known what he wants. If he isn’t competing for a title, it is impossible for him to be the best version of himself on the court.
“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,” Antetokounmpo said of the Bucks. “And if I don’t feel that, I’m not signing (as a free agent).”
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks & New York Knicks Updates
Eligible for an extension this season, it would be shocking if a new deal is agreed upon between the Bucks and Antetokounmpo. With an aging core around him and lacking assets, the Bucks no longer look like a bonafide contender in the Eastern Conference.
One team that is keeping a close eye on Milwaukee is the New York Knicks. They have been patiently waiting to strike and acquire a star. Leon Rose and company have done a great job not only compiling assets but also turning the Knicks into an attractive place for players to want to play once again.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks & New York Knicks Updates
Anyone who trades for Antetokounmpo is doing so under the impression that they can sign him to a long-term deal. Has New York built itself up into a contender to that extent to be attractive to him? Danny Abriano of SNY cautions that a tight rope would have to be walked in such a scenario and this is a path that has burned the franchise previously.
“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,” Antetokounmpo said of the Bucks. “And if I don’t feel that, I’m not signing (as a free agent).”
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks & New York Knicks Updates
If there is a chance, even if it is a very small one, that you can acquire a player such as Antetokounmpo, you are going to do everything in your power to be in a position to do so. The Knicks are going to continue making moves that help them in the present, but every decision will also be made with an eye toward the future with a potential Greek prize at the end.
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