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Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo Approaching 'Inflection Point' in NBA Career: Analyst

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Malik Brown | Last updated May 17, 2025 3:37 PM ET

The Milwaukee Bucks seem to be at a standstill going into the offseason, as there will be more questions than answers for the team. It was another unsuccessful postseason for them, and they were once again eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the Indiana Pacers. Now, the big question is what they will do in the offseason, and the main person to look at is Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Antetokounmpo has been through the ups and downs with the Bucks and has accomplished many things, but with him in the prime of his career and the Bucks not having quite a clear direction, there's a chance that he could request a trade during the offseason.

Many think that it may be time for Antetokounmpo to move on from the Bucks as he's at a crucial point in his career, while the Bucks have many questions.

"Is Giannis willing to live with playing one season near what could be the end of his prime with little hope of contention, while praying that Lillard can come back effectively from his injury and that the Bucks can make waves in the 2026 offseason," Sam Vecenie of The Athletic wrote. "Or is this the natural time for him to ask for a new beginning with a different organization?

"That’s why conversation around Giannis has picked up in league circles. He’s clearly at an inflection point in his career, and with only two years guaranteed left on his deal, this would be the ideal time for the Bucks to cash in. But if Antetokounmpo decides that he wants out, the Bucks got very lucky with Monday’s lottery results. Let’s live in that hypothetical land for a second."

It would not be a surprise to see Antetokounmpo make a change in his career, and if it's anytime to do so, it's right now.

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

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