Giannis Insists He Is “Locked In” With Bucks Despite Ongoing Trade Rumors
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Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo pushed back Thursday against reports that he and agent Alex Saratsis have been discussing his future with team executives, telling reporters he remains fully committed to the franchise.
“If my agent is talking to the Bucks, he’s his own person,” Antetokounmpo said, according to The Athletic’s Eric Nehm. “I don’t work for my agent; my agent works for me. I personally have not had that conversation with the Bucks.”
The comments came during Antetokounmpo’s first media availability since a right calf strain sustained on Dec. 3 sidelined him for what doctors estimated would be two to four weeks. The two-time MVP emphasized that his primary focus is returning to health and supporting a roster that has stumbled to an 11-17 record, near the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings.
“I’m still locked in on my teammates—most importantly locked in on getting back healthy,” he said. “As a leader and, most importantly, as a winner, you’ve got to be there for them first.”
Trade speculation has intensified as Milwaukee’s losses have mounted, but Antetokounmpo said he expects the chatter to continue until the Bucks produce better results. “Do I hope it ends? For sure. Do I think it’s going to end? No,” he acknowledged. “When people see cracks, they see opportunity. If I were an executive on the other side, I’d probably do the same thing.”
The 31-year-old forward added that teammates have approached him about the rumors, concerned about their own futures. He has responded candidly, stressing the need for greater urgency. “Guys, this is serious—we’ve got to turn this around,” he said.
Antetokounmpo attributed his calf injury to overcompensating for a previous left adductor strain earlier in the season and admitted he might have rushed his earlier return. “Maybe it was a mistake coming back a little bit earlier,” he said. “The only way you can pop your soleus is by overcompensating and then having an extreme amount of load.”
No firm timetable has been set for his return, but Antetokounmpo indicated he will not hurry back this time, determined to avoid a setback as Milwaukee seeks to revive its season.
Source: HoopsRumors
