Hall Of Fame Writer David Aldridge Wants Giannis Antetokounmpo To Remain With Bucks

Shams Charania of ESPN reported on Monday that Giannis Antetokounmpo is open to leaving the Milwaukee Bucks, who have won only one postseason series since winning the 2021 championship against the Phoenix Suns in six games. 

The Bucks signed Antetokounmpo to a three-year, $175 million extension in October 2023. Antetokounmpo, 30, will make $54,126,380 next season.

Hall of Fame writer David Aldridge of The Athletic wants Antetokounmpo to remain with Milwaukee, although he understands that the forward “doesn’t want to waste the rest of his prime in service to a team that isn’t good enough to contend.”

Damian Lillard could miss the entire 2025-26 season after tearing his left Achilles tendon in Game 4 against the Indiana Pacers in the first round of this year’s playoffs. 

“Let me be as clear as possible on this. I want Giannis Antetokounmpo to finish his career in Milwaukee,” Aldridge wrote. “There are few stories as meaningful to the notion of the NBA that I believe is the best version of the NBA than a young player coming to a small or mid-market team, discovering his greatest potential and winning in front of a fan base that understands, better than any in New York or L.A., what it’s really like to struggle, what it’s really like to not be viewed as a marquee franchise. I believe Giannis wants to stay in Milwaukee — but, understandably, doesn’t want to waste the rest of his prime in service to a team that isn’t good enough to contend.

“The problem Antetokounmpo has is that the Bucks have done nearly everything he’s asked over the years by surrounding him with players or coaches that he wanted in the hunt for a first, and then, a second title. That most of the moves haven’t yet worked, or even come close, isn’t the Greek Freak’s fault, of course. His play remains above reproach. But they haven’t worked. And they don’t leave Milwaukee with a lot of runway to take yet another big swing.”

Antetokounmpo is a two-time MVP, a one-time Finals MVP, a one-time Defensive Player of the Year and a nine-time All-Star. The superstar forward has career averages of 23.9 points, 9.9 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.2 blocks. 

Antetokounmpo does not have a no-trade clause in his contract.