Antetokounmpo Returns With 29 Points and Controversial Dunk as Bucks Beat Bulls
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CHICAGO — Giannis Antetokounmpo ended a three-week injury layoff Saturday night with 29 points in 25 minutes and a headline-grabbing windmill dunk that capped the Milwaukee Bucks’ 112-103 win over the Chicago Bulls at United Center.
The two-time MVP grabbed a long rebound with seven seconds left, raced the length of the floor and finished the emphatic slam even though the outcome was settled. Bulls center Nikola Vucevic and guard Coby White confronted him at mid-court, prompting players from both teams to exchange shoves before security separated the groups. Antetokounmpo exited to a chorus of boos, flashing two thumbs down to the crowd.
Urgency After a 2-6 Stretch
Milwaukee had gone 2-6 while Antetokounmpo nursed a calf strain suffered Dec. 3. The victory was just the Bucks’ fourth in December, leaving the club 13-19 and 11th in the Eastern Conference. “If we keep on losing, probably half of the team is not going to be here,” Antetokounmpo said postgame. “We’re fighting for our lives.”
Rookie guard Ryan Rollins, one of few bright spots during the skid, welcomed the statement. “I love it,” he said of the dunk. “Our whole team came out and we backed up Giannis.”
Cloudy Future Looms
Speculation surrounding Antetokounmpo’s long-term plans intensified after ESPN reported on Dec. 3 that he and agent Alex Saratsis had reopened talks about his future. The 31-year-old has repeatedly said he wants to chase another title in Milwaukee but has also noted it would be “human to change his mind.”
The Bucks, led by head coach Doc Rivers and general manager Jon Horst, have maintained they intend to build around their franchise cornerstone rather than entertain trade scenarios. Horst has only one movable first-round pick—2031 or 2032—and limited large contracts outside Antetokounmpo and center Myles Turner, making a significant upgrade challenging before the Feb. 5 trade deadline.
Trade Market Options
Team and league sources said Milwaukee has internally discussed targets such as Sacramento’s Zach LaVine and Malik Monk and Portland’s Jerami Grant. Any blockbuster would likely require the franchise’s lone tradable future first, which the front office has so far resisted offering.
Statistics and Contract Status
Antetokounmpo is averaging 28.9 points, 10.0 rebounds and 5.8 assists, joining Nikola Jokic as the only players producing at least 25-10-5 this season. He is under contract through 2026-27 with a player option for 2027-28, giving him leverage should he opt against an extension this summer.
Bucks Look Ahead
Milwaukee traveled to Charlotte on Sunday after a postgame team dinner in downtown Chicago. Rivers said the club has “a chance to make a run,” but emphasized improvement across the board: “We need more than just Giannis coming back. We all have to play better, coach better, rebound better.”
With 50 games remaining and a 12.9% chance to reach the playoffs according to ESPN’s Basketball Power Index, the Bucks face mounting pressure to climb the standings—or risk confronting the franchise-altering question of Antetokounmpo’s future sooner than expected.
Source: ESPN
