Jalen Rose: Giannis Antetokounmpo won't sign long-term extension if Bucks lose early in bubble
As we head into the resumed NBA season, the Milwaukee Bucks are the clear favorites in the Eastern Conference. They have the best record, best point differential and the best player in Giannis Antetokounmpo. If the Bucks fail to perform in the playoffs, however, they will risk losing the franchise's best player since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, according to ESPN's Jalen Rose.
"I want to see them win the championship because I believe if they do, he signs that Patrick Mahomes, NBA version type of deal," Rose said on "Get Up."
Giannis is set to become a free agent next summer, and it's no secret that he would be the most highly coveted free agent on the market. The Bucks hope to keep him in Milwaukee by offering him as big of a deal as possible. However, Antetokounmpo may start to look elsewhere if the team once again falls short in the playoffs.
"If they lose in the first or the second round, then I believe [Giannis] now does not sign a long-term extension," Rose said.
Last season, the Bucks were also the favorites heading into the playoffs but were beaten in six games by the Toronto Raptors in the Eastern Conference Finals. Toronto, of course, went on to win the championship. If Giannis left the Bucks, Rose noted he certainly would not be the first superstar to do so.
"We saw LeBron, as an MVP, leave Cleveland," Rose explained. "We saw KD, as an MVP, leave OKC. I do not want to see this happen to the Milwaukee Bucks."
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