Giannis Antetokounmpo helped the Milwaukee Bucks end their 50-year championship drought in 2021.
It’s rare for a mid-first-round draft pick to become a two-time NBA MVP and lead his team to a title. Well, Giannis Antetokounmpo did just that after the Bucks showed trust in him during the 2013 NBA draft.
The Greek Freak started his career as a lanky rookie and turned into the beast we know him today. During his NBA journey, Antetokounmpo fulfilled the task of winning a ring with the team that drafted him.
However, the 29-year-old is apparently worried about his future with the organization. Antetokounmpo’s recent comments on potentially getting traded if he fails to fulfill one mission.
Gone are the days when athletes had tendencies to stay with a single franchise throughout their careers. Nowadays, players do not hesitate to demand a trade if they feel unhappy with the franchise’s direction. Paul George’s move to the Philadelphia 76ers was a perfect example of the same.
But a player of Antetokounmpo’s stature, who also led the Bucks to their first title in 50 years, should be safe from such rumors, right? Well, Giannis believes he could end up on the trade block if he doesn’t wins another ring with the Bucks.
“Yeah, if we don’t win a championship, I might get traded,” Antetokounmpo said. “This is the job we live. This is the world we’re living in. It’s everybody. At any given moment, if you don’t succeed, that might be it for us.”
Giannis’ sudden freakout over getting traded from the Bucks didn’t sit well with the NBA community.
One fan wrote: “He knows he’s never getting traded. That’s just him trying to send a message to his teammates.”
While another fan thinks Antetokounmpo subtly shared his wish to be traded: “He’s saying he wants to get traded.”
One fan praised the 2021 NBA champion: “Giannis is one of the most honest and refreshing superstars in sports.”
Lastly, a fan thinks the Golden State Warriors should make an offer for him: “The Warriors have the best package to offer.”
Whether it was a PR stunt by Antetokounmpo or not, it has stirred up trade rumors ahead of the 2024-25 NBA season. After all, he is one of the, if not the best player in the league.
Since lifting the Larry O’Brien trophy in 2021, the Bucks have failed to recreate a similar run in the postseason. They were eliminated in the Eastern Conference in 2022.
The organization had an embarrassing first-round exit at the hands of the eighth-seeded Miami Heat in 2023. Once again, they were sent home by the Indiana Pacers in a six-game series in the opening round of the 2024 playoffs.
Antetokounmpo’s failure to stay fit has held back the Bucks over the last two seasons. It will be on him to not only stay healthy but also lead the organization to a respectable run this season.
However, it’s unlikely the Bucks will consider trading the face of the franchise anytime soon, regardless of the result.
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