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Bucks Get Concerning News on Giannis Antetokounmpo

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Dibyendu Mondal | Last updated Apr 4, 2025 2:40 PM ET

The Milwaukee Bucks (42-34) are tied for the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference and remain focused on making a late-season run ahead of the NBA playoffs. Yet, questions surround the future of the Bucks roster, including superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Milwaukee defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 126-113 on Thursday behind Giannis Antetokounmpo’s historic 35-point, 20-assist and 17-rebound game, marking the team's second win this week after a four-game losing streak.

The focus of NBA fans continues to drift towards Antetokounmpo's future. ESPN’s Shams Charania reported on "The Pat McAfee Show" that the Bucks star plans to evaluate his future with the franchise following the season’s conclusion.

"He has said, I wanna be somewhere where we're pursuing championships," Charania said of Antetokounmpo on Wednesday. "I'm told every summer he's gonna look at, 'Where am I gonna get the best (chance at) long-term sustained winning?' Will that be in Milwaukee? We'll see."

Is Dame coming back to the #Bucks quicker than we think??

️@ShamsCharania x @PatMcAfeeShow pic.twitter.com/ObVIi4J57b
— ESPN Milwaukee (@ESPNMilwaukee) April 2, 2025

The star is on a three-year $175 million contract with the Bucks which is slated to run through 2027-28 NBA season. If Antetokounmpo wants to move on from the Bucks, the superstar would have to push for a blockbuster trade.

With only six games remaining this season, Charania has also shed light on Damian Lillard's health after being diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in his right calf, which has sidelined the guard indefinitely.

Damian Lillard has been diagnosed with a deep vein thrombosis (blood clot) in his right calf and is out indefinitely

Lillard is on blood-thinning medication, which has stabilized the blood clot, and will continue with regular testing pic.twitter.com/0wlYbZl8hD
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 26, 2025

"Yeah, there is a chance (Lillard can return this season), there's optimism," Charania said when asked whether Lillard could return sooner. "He's doing some light workouts right now.

"He's hopeful to get cleared here in the next week, week and a half to go full contact and then resume basketball and play in games for the Milwaukee Bucks."

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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