Giannis Antetokounmpo: ‘I’m here… As long as I’m here, I’ll give everything I have’
Giannis Antetokounmpo was exactly what Milwaukee needed on the court Saturday night, coming back from missing eight games with a strained calf to score 29 points and lead the Bucks to a much-needed win over the Bulls. He even closed the game with a controversial windmill dunk that led to words with some Bulls players after the buzzer.
After the game, however, Antetokounmpo dismissed any controversy surrounding him and his future in Milwaukee: He wouldn’t discuss it.
Announcement
During his post-match media sessionhe was asked, “Do you want to be here if you guys can’t…” but Antetokounmpo interrupted the question.
“I’m here. I’m here. I’m here. Don’t ask me that question. I’m here. It’s disrespectful to myself and my teammates. I wear that jersey every single day. It’s disrespectful to the organization, my coaching staff, myself and all the people that work hard for me to come here and say I don’t want to be here. Don’t ask me that question. I’m here. I’m wearing the jersey. And how as long as I’m here, I’m going to give everything I have even in the last second of the game.”
That echoes what Antetokounmpo said back to the media the day before the team’s first practice: Antetokounmpo is all-in on these Bucks and is fully committed, then will re-evaluate the situation in the offseason. As he says he does every offseason (last offseason prompted the Bucks to have conversations with the Knicks, but at some point in late summer, after Mikal Bridges was extended, when finding a trade was nearly impossible).
The Bucks continue to break down teams who control Antetokounmpo’s trade availability at the deadline, instead they say they are looking to add to the roster and they want to build something that can better compete in an open Eastern Conference.
Announcement
The only way the dynamic changes is if Antetokounmpo requests a trade, and as his statement above shows, that is unlikely. Antetokounmpo doesn’t want to be bad, he doesn’t want to disrespect his teammates like that. Now, next summer, entering what could be the final year of his contract (he has a player option for 2027-28), he can tell the Bucks that he won’t sign an extension, and that will force Milwaukee to trade him or risk losing him for nothing.
But it will be next summer. Until then, Antetokounmpo is all about trying to win with these Bucks, who are 10-8 when suiting up this season (but 3-11 when he’s out). Antetokounmpo continues to play at an MVP level, averaging 28.9 points on 64.1% shooting, with 10 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game.