Source: https://streamable.com/dr6bm9
Giannis Antetokounmpo on his future with the Milwaukee Bucks: “I’m a Milwaukee Buck, but most importantly I’m a winner. … If there is a better situation for me to win the Larry O’Brien I have to take that better situation.”
Seems like Giannis Antetokounmpo continues to leave the door open to leaving the Milwaukee Bucks next off-season.
by UnbiasedNBAFan_
16 Comments
I don’t blame him for putting pressure on the organization. He has every right to go another team, and he’s earned every cent he’s been paid plus some.
I can understand him putting pressure on the org as he has earned the right but every week? Oh well guess I’ll start getting ready for another superstar leaving a Wisconsin team
He literally says he could see himself being a Milwaukee Buck for life.
more Giannis trade rumors incoming….
Here’s the thing with Giannis, at least from my perspective. He’s pragmatic. He’s said things like he’d worry where a paycheck would come from in the future. He’s going to be a billionaire. Doesn’t mean he doesn’t think about it.
Same mindset with this. He’s repeatedly said he wants to spend his career here. He wants to be our Dirk or Kobe. But the flip side, the pragmatic side says “winning is the most important thing” so there is always a door open in his mind that he can look through and know he’s going to be somewhere he can win a title.
He wants that place to be here, I believe that. I think we can always be title contenders if he’s here. So he’ll never really have a reason to leave (hopefully) but if that reason comes up, his mind is open to going somewhere he can have a better chance.
This isn’t one foot out of the door. This is being fully committed to the present and doing his best day to day. If a day comes where he feels he needs to leave, that option is open in his mind.
I wouldn’t even be mad if he did. He’s done more for this team and city than any other Milwaukee Buck that’s been here in my lifetime.
TL:DR; Giannis doesn’t want to leave but the option is in the back of his mind.
One thing I always keep in mind, Giannis owes us nothing. We owe him our eternal gratitude. He brought us our first championship in 50 years. He’s a constant source of class and positivity. I’ve been a Bucks fan all my life and will be until I die. I am also a Giannis fan for life. No matter what the future brings as far as who he’s playing for, I will always cheer on his successes.
I think the Bucks have shown a desire to win and have taken Giannis’ desires into consideration. They’ve gone into the luxury tax to put the best team around him and maintain the chemistry that has brought us success. They consulted his opinion on their head coaching hire. If his talks of his future and the negotiation of an extension hold the FO’s feet to the fire to do everything they can to win, I’m all for it. If he does get traded or leave in free agency, I won’t be holding it against him.
While I agree that this is similar to things Giannis has said previously I would really caution against putting heads in the sand and pretending this doesn’t mean anything.
If the team flames out in the playoffs again we may very well come back to this and wonder why so many people dismissed it.
I think things could get very real around here very fast if they don’t at least make a deep run again.
Giannis Antetokounmpo you are a Boston Celtic
The last two seasons, we haven’t had a full, starting five for the entire run of the playoffs, the year before last Khris Middleton was hurt, and last year Giannis was hurt for three of those games…. It’s not like the Bucks aren’t trying to win…. Sounds like Giannis has short term memory loss.
It makes zero sense to say under any and all circumstances “I will stay here.” Look at Fame for example – if we don’t go out and surround him with pieces to win, he should leave. If we get stuck and can’t rebuild around him, he should leave.
The team has an obligation to him to win if the expectation is he stays, and if he stays he has an obligation to give everything he has to the team. Either side doesn’t live up to that, it’s totally reasonable to part ways.
Honestly, if he did leave I wouldn’t be mad. He already has done more for this team than arguably any other player in our history. While it would be great to win another ring with him, I get it. If we’re going to be rebuilding, why should he waste the remaining few years of his prime? I just hope he doesn’t go make a super team. I’d be sick if he joined Golden State or Boston.
How about this – make 70% of your free throws in a playoff series.
Giannis just be saying stuff
The org better not fuck this up.
Perfect answer, honestly.
Anyone thinking formally declare he’s a Buck for life at this point just doesn’t get the “politics” behind it all.
What he said was completely fine. But his brothers clogging up 2 rosters spots just makes it weird. Lol