Bucks Opt to Keep Giannis Antetokounmpo Past Trade Deadline
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The Milwaukee Bucks told interested teams only hours before Thursday’s 3 p.m. ET trade deadline that Giannis Antetokounmpo will stay in Milwaukee for the remainder of the 2025-26 campaign, league sources said on Feb. 5.
Golden State, Miami and Minnesota were among several clubs that had explored deals for the two-time MVP. Last week, multiple reports indicated Antetokounmpo had been open to a change of scenery either at the deadline or during the coming offseason, and Milwaukee spent the past few days engaging in—and countering—offers for the 31-year-old star. Even so, team officials ultimately decided they were not compelled to act before the clock expired and plan to revisit the situation this summer, sources added.
Minutes after the deadline passed, Antetokounmpo posted on Instagram, writing “Legends don’t chase. They attract,” alongside an expletive-filled scene from The Wolf of Wall Street in which Leonardo DiCaprio’s character declares he is not leaving.
Extension Looms in October
Antetokounmpo becomes eligible for a contract extension on Oct. 1. Because he holds a player option for 2027-28, he has only one fully guaranteed season left, giving him considerable influence over any future landing spot.
Bucks Still Hunting Upgrades
Milwaukee, 12th in the Eastern Conference and three games behind Chicago for the final play-in position, continues to look for roster improvements. The club has won two straight but remains outside the postseason picture.
In their first move after confirming Antetokounmpo would stay, the Bucks acquired forward Ousmane Dieng in a three-team trade with the Bulls and Suns, sources said. Milwaukee sent guard Cole Anthony—who signed a one-year, $13 million deal last summer and is averaging 6.7 points in 15.1 minutes—to Phoenix, while center Nick Richards went to Chicago.
Injury Update
Antetokounmpo has appeared in 30 games this season, averaging 28.0 points, 10.0 rebounds and 5.6 assists. He strained his right calf on Jan. 23 in Denver and estimated a four-to-six-week recovery, though the team has not provided an official timetable. The forward has worked out on the court in Milwaukee this week and expects to return before season’s end, according to sources.
Source: ESPN
