Giannis Antetokounmpo used NBA All-Star Weekend to deliver a clear message about where he stands with the Milwaukee Bucks, reaffirming his commitment to the franchise while also underscoring that his championship hunger has not faded.
“As of today, I’m committed to the Milwaukee Bucks,” Antetokounmpo said speaking with ESPN’s Malika Andrews. “I’m committed to the people that I work with, my teammates, the coaching staff, Coach Doc [Rivers] and [GM] Jon [Horst] in the front office.
“What I’ve said from the beginning of this year is that, out of my mouth and the way I’ve carried myself, you will never hear me say I don’t want to be a Milwaukee Buck.”
Those comments came just days after ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that Antetokounmpo had been open to exploring a new situation for months leading into the February 5th trade deadline.
Charania noted that Milwaukee fielded interest from several teams, including the Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat, and Minnesota Timberwolves, before ultimately standing pat. The expectation remains that the topic could resurface this offseason.
Despite the noise, Antetokounmpo framed his mindset around one thing: winning.
“You want that steak again,” he said, reflecting on Milwaukee’s championship run in 2021.
The Bucks head into the All-Star break with a 23-33 record, sitting 12th in the Eastern Conference. Antetokounmpo has not played since January 23rd due to a strained right calf, but head coach Doc Rivers has publicly stated there is no intention to shut him down for the remainder of the season.
Even amid uncertainty surrounding the standings and his health, Antetokounmpo’s loyalty to Milwaukee came through clearly in his conversation with Andrews.
“This is my team, and I love it,” he said.
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