Giannis Antetokounmpo Says Extension With Bucks Is Still Possible
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The Milwaukee Bucks wrapped up a disappointing 32-50 campaign Sunday night, and attention has immediately shifted to whether Giannis Antetokounmpo will remain with the franchise.
Speaking to reporters after the season finale, the two-time MVP said he has not decided if he has already played his last game in a Bucks uniform. “That’s a very good question. I don’t know. It’s not up to me. We’ll see,” Antetokounmpo said when asked about his future.
The 29-year-old forward becomes eligible on October 1 to sign a four-year maximum extension. He is scheduled to earn $58.5 million in 2026-27 and holds a $62.8 million player option for 2027-28, allowing him to reach unrestricted free agency next summer if no new deal is reached. Team co-owner Wes Edens stated last month that Antetokounmpo will either be extended or traded during the offseason.
Antetokounmpo acknowledged the upcoming decision window but left every possibility open. “If everything goes well, hopefully, the Bucks want me here—why not? But if they don’t? OK,” he said, adding that he will choose “the best decision for me and my family.”
Coaching Change and Communication Issues
The Bucks’ offseason overhaul has already begun. Doc Rivers revealed Sunday he will not return as head coach, creating further uncertainty around the organization’s direction. Antetokounmpo expressed frustration with the season’s outcome, calling the team “as far away from title contention as it’s been in my 13-year career.”
He also cited ongoing communication problems: “I feel like sometimes people just don’t listen. They listen to the sources. The main source is me.”
Dispute Over Knee Injury
A public disagreement between Antetokounmpo and the team about his readiness to return from a left knee hyperextension and bone bruise, suffered March 15, led the NBA to open an investigation. Antetokounmpo said he completed multiple three-on-three sessions and wanted to play, while the Bucks maintained he was not fully healed.
“I did what I was supposed to do,” he said. “But this shows me that players, in general, don’t have control. We have to do what we’re told.”
The Bucks must now decide whether to offer the extension or explore trade scenarios before the forward can enter free agency in 2027-28.
Source: Hoops Rumors
