Giannis continues to confound with non-committal committals

Asked if he would finish the season in Milwaukee, which means making it past the trade deadline in three weeks, he said he didn't know.

"I take it day by day."

On its face, that's not an alarming quote. We all take everything day by day. Never know what can happen in life, at any moment.

Except that he does know he can shut all this down if he wants.

Another star, if not one of the same level, in Memphis has been more direct about his desires than Giannis has -- even if not everyone believes everything Ja Morant says. The Memphis guard, about whom the middling Grizzlies are supposedly open to offers, stated unequivocally on an overseas trip that he wanted to stay with his current organization in his favored city.

"I got a logo on my back," Morant said, "and that should tell you where I want to be."

He may end up getting traded anyway. And he may ultimately want that and just not want to say it. But he also doesn't hold the power that Giannis does, with the latter a former MVP and champion who at age 31 is still at the peak of his powers. It's understandable that Antetokounmpo is tired of the endless speculation and, as accommodating as he has always been to the media, just wants to get though these press sessions so he isn't watching every word.

Others, however, are watching and listening.

And this latest one wasn't soothing, especially after a win.

The rumors haven't come from nowhere. If the team was playing well and he was happy with the roster, you wouldn't be hearing anything, except from a few ESPN rabble-rousers who prefer that he play in a bigger market. Giannis has become the story of this season even with his team under .500 because there is something left to be desired in his current situation, and everyone knows it, and feels that he is feeling it.

Yes, it is day to day.

Yet, in future days, if he really does want to see it through in Milwaukee, he should say so.

Because there's no way the Bucks will trade him without his "say so."

• Giannis is an All-Star again, on a good day for the Bucks
• Why Milwaukee Bucks won't trade Giannis, even though they probably should
• Exploring a Tar Heel possibility for the Bucks in the 2026 NBA Draft
• Should Milwaukee Bucks trade Kyle Kuzma?