All signs suggest that in Milwaukee the rumors are becoming reality, and concern has already turned into resignation: the Giannis Antetokounmpoera with the Bucks appears to be nearing its end, and although his official statements insist on stability, media reports point to the possibility that the star will soon have a new home outside the organization.
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The on-court context explains much of this tension. With a losing record of 18-24, the team is currently outside the play-in positions in the Eastern Conference. For the first time in the 2020s, there is a real risk that Milwaukee could miss the playoffs, something unthinkable for a player averaging 28.5 points and 9.8 rebounds in his 13th season. Without a doubt, being part of a story of failure is not what he wants.
What is Antetokounmpo’s future?
Brian Windhorst, an ESPN reporter, summed up the situation on Wednesday on NBA Today with an analogy that has echoed throughout the league: “It’s almost like a couple that everyone in the league believes is going to get divorced. They don’t know if they’ll get divorced by Easter or by the Fourth of July, but around the league, teams believe this is going to be a divorce,” he said.
The tension has also spilled over into the relationship with the fan base. In a recent home loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, Giannis was booed and responded with a defiant attitude, very different from his usual charisma, later stating that he enjoyed being the villain.
Management maintains a defensive posture while remaining active in the market. According to Windhorst: “The Bucks, to my knowledge, are still not taking phone calls about Giannis. They’re only making outgoing calls.” However, the general perception is that an opening will come sooner or later for the two-time MVP.
Giannis himself is not helping the narrative. When asked whether he will remain with the team through the end of the season, he has answered only: “I don’t know. I take it day by day.” Those are not the words of someone fully committed to his lineup.
Antetokounmpo has reiterated in the past that his priority is to compete for championships, something he considers a duty to the sport. “I think it’s detrimental to basketball, just to the game, not to want to compete at a high level, to want your season to end in April,” he said in September.
Now, with the Bucks fighting for relevance, that possibility of seeing the season end in April is more real than ever, bringing closer the date of that “divorce” the NBA largely takes for granted, even as some still refuse to believe in one last illusion.
