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NBA insider explains what the Milwaukee Bucks should do in Giannis Antetokounmpo’s situation, ‘It took 50 years…’

Originally posted on NBA Analysis Network
By Bergas Agung | Last updated Jul 3, 2025 9:00 PM ET

The Milwaukee Bucks find themselves in a precarious position regarding Giannis Antetokounmpo’s long-term commitment to the franchise.

Reports suggest the superstar is evaluating the team’s direction following their decision to waive Damian Lillard after acquiring Myles Turner.

The Greek Freak’s displeasure with the Lillard decision has sparked widespread speculation about his future in Milwaukee.

Bill Simmons believes the front office should consider trading Giannis given the roster’s current construction.

NBA insider Tim Bontemps makes a case for keeping Giannis in Milwaukee forever

ESPN’s Tim Bontemps strongly advocates for the Bucks retaining Giannis Antetokounmpo throughout his entire career, believing the superstar has earned the right to choose his own path.

The veteran insider emphasizes Giannis’s unique opportunity to join basketball’s most exclusive loyalty club.

“If he wants to play on the Milwaukee Bucks for his whole career, should play on the Milwaukee Bucks for his whole career. He would have an unbelievable career then,” Bontemps explained during a recent podcast appearance.

Giannis could join legendary company of Dirk, Kobe, Duncan and Curry

The insider’s argument centers on Giannis joining the exclusive group of superstars who spent their entire careers with one franchise while winning championships.

“He’d be looked at like Dirk Nowitzki, like Kobe Bryant, like Tim Duncan, like Steph Curry. The guy has won a title. He has nothing to apologize for. He has nothing he needs to do. If he wants to be a Buck, God bless him. Have him play his career there,” Bontemps stated.

This perspective emphasizes Giannis’s 2021 championship as validation of his Milwaukee tenure. Unlike many superstars who chase titles elsewhere, Giannis already delivered the franchise’s first championship in 50 years.

Bucks waited 50 years between generational talents like Giannis

Bontemps reinforced his argument by highlighting Milwaukee’s historical context and the rarity of players like Giannis.

The franchise’s championship drought between Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Giannis demonstrates how difficult elite talent is to acquire.

“Because it took 50 years for the Milwaukee Bucks to get another player like Giannis. They had Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in the 70s, they won a title. They went decades while having good teams, never coming that close to winning a title,” he explained.

This historical perspective underscores why Milwaukee should prioritize keeping Giannis regardless of current roster concerns.

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Current roster construction threatens Giannis’s competitive demands

Despite Bontemps’s loyalty argument, Giannis’s championship expectations create legitimate concerns about Milwaukee’s current direction. The superstar rightfully demands a competitive supporting cast capable of contending for titles.

The Bucks’ questionable roster moves, including waiving Lillard and relying on unproven pieces, may not meet Giannis’s championship standards.

His elite MVP-level production deserves a franchise commitment to sustained contention rather than cost-cutting measures.

Milwaukee faces a critical decision: invest heavily in championship-caliber talent or risk losing their generational superstar to a franchise with stronger title aspirations.

This article first appeared on NBA Analysis Network and was syndicated with permission.

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