Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo insists he has no plans to request a trade
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Giannis Antetokounmpo said he is committed to the Milwaukee Bucks and has no intention of asking to leave the franchise.
Speaking with The Athletic’s Sam Amick after Wednesday night’s loss to the Golden State Warriors, the two-time MVP delivered his clearest denial yet of months of speculation about his future.
“There will never be a chance, and there will never be a moment that I will come out and say I want a trade,” Antetokounmpo said. “That’s not in my nature.”
Trade chatter has swirled around the 29-year-old since last spring, when Milwaukee was knocked out in the first round for the third consecutive season and guard Damian Lillard suffered a torn Achilles. In response, the Bucks overhauled their roster in the offseason, waiving Lillard and signing center Myles Turner in an effort to strengthen the lineup around their franchise cornerstone.
Reports later indicated that Milwaukee and the New York Knicks briefly discussed Antetokounmpo during the summer and that representatives from his camp revisited the topic in December. The forward emphasized those talks involved his agent, Alex Saratsis, not him personally.
“I can only control what comes out of my mouth,” he said. “Not one time have I shown that I’m not invested in this team.”
When asked whether he has definitively ruled out leaving Milwaukee, Antetokounmpo answered, “As of today,” adding that he is unconcerned if the wording fuels further doubt among fans. “I’m invested in this team. I want to turn this team around.”
Team outlook
The Bucks are 16-21 overall and sit just outside the Eastern Conference play-in picture. They are 13-10 with Antetokounmpo in uniform; in those games he is averaging 29.5 points, 10.0 rebounds and 5.5 assists on elite shooting efficiency.
Contract status
Antetokounmpo is earning $54.1 million this season. His deal calls for $58.5 million in 2026-27 and includes a $62.8 million player option for 2027-28. He becomes eligible for a contract extension in October.
Source: Hoops Wire
