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Giannis Antetokounmpo’s latest attempt at saying he doesn’t want to play for the Milwaukee Bucks anymore — without actually saying it, so he doesn’t look bad — could be what finally, mercifully gets his long, ugly, ongoing divorce from the franchise over the finish line.
His fear of becoming the “bad guy” by requesting the trade he’s so clearly been longing for has only prolonged this inevitable split and convinced the Bucks to bleed assets in the process. Now, as their ship sinks, they’re realizing that they offloaded all of their lifeboats to cut weight because Antetokounmpo wanted to sail faster.
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While Giannis is not solely to blame for this, it’s impossible to argue that his impatience and constant holding his team’s feet to the fire didn’t contribute. Let’s take a trip back to 2021.
Months after Milwaukee captured its first title in 50 years, Antetokounmpo publicly cast doubt on his future with the Bucks, for no discernible reason at all, during an interview with GQ Magazine’s Zach Baron.
“One challenge was to bring a championship here and we did,” he told Baron. “It was very hard, but we did. Very, very hard. I just love challenges. What’s the next challenge? The next challenge might not be here.”
Huh? Less than half a year after winning a title, you’re already thinking about leaving??
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“Me and my family chose to stay in this city that we all love and has taken care of us—for now [with a five-year supermax extension through the 2025 season],” he added. “In two years, that might change. I’m being totally honest with you. I’m always honest.”
Giannis critics — and at this point, even Bucks fans — might argue that sometimes he’s a little too honest. After a second-round exit in 2022 and a devastating first-round upset at the hands of the Miami Heat in 2023 raised tensions further, Giannis memorably went on a long rant about how sports don’t ever feature failure, but it was his next public comments that were more notable: The star issued another public warning to the Bucks, once again hinting at an eventual departure during a…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/giannis-tried-both-ways-bucks-153240026.html
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Publish date : 2026-04-12 15:32:00
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