Giannis Antetokounmpo could gain a shocking new partner in 2027 free agency

That means the Bucks must stay aggressive in building a championship-caliber roster around Antetokounmpo. They could swing for a blockbuster trade to bring in another star, but it might prove more realistic to land a superstar through free agency.

When he joined The Zach Lowe Show on Sept. 22, Sam Amick of The Athletic shared an intriguing detail about the Bucks and what could shape up to be a franchise-altering summer in the NBA in 2027.

Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokic teaming up in Milwaukee?

“That’s something I spent a fair amount of time this summer talking to people about. I had a Bucks person give me a hard time and say they were just happy that I included Joker in a column about ’27 because they were tired of Giannis being by himself,” Amick remarked during his appearance.

The odds of Milwaukee teaming up Giannis Antetokounmpo with Nikola Jokic may be slim, but Luka Doncic’s move to the Los Angeles Lakers to join LeBron James proved that blockbuster deals can create new superstar duos and reshape the NBA landscape.

The Bucks struggle to lure superstar talent on their own, but Giannis Antetokounmpo’s presence makes the opportunity far more appealing. Small-market teams often battle this issue, and the Denver Nuggets face the same challenge with Nikola Jokic.

Milwaukee must reshape the roster, or they will face a long rebuilding process unless they strike gold in the NBA Draft with a player who can grow into a pillar of the franchise the way Antetokounmpo and Jokic did.

Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokic are expected to decline their player options in the summer of 2027, and Stephen Curry and Donovan Mitchell will face the same choice. Other high-profile players set to hit unrestricted free agency that year include Jimmy Butler, Trae Young, Kawhi Leonard, and Zach LaVine.

Superstars often choose to sign massive extensions with their current teams, and many expect these players to do the same. Still, their decisions will ultimately depend on the direction of their franchises and whether chasing championships outweighs other priorities late in their careers.