Report: Giannis Antetokounmpo Interested In Playing For Raptors And Nets

According to Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson, Giannis Antetokounmpo is interested in playing for the Toronto Raptors and Brooklyn Nets. 

Shams Charania of ESPN reported on Monday that 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.

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. He has spent his entire career with the Bucks. 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. The future Hall of Famer averaged 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 0.9 steals and 1.2 blocks this season.

The Bucks won 48 games in the regular season but lost to the Indiana Pacers in the first round of the playoffs in five games. 

Meanwhile, the Raptors and Nets missed the playoffs this year. 

“If Giannis ever makes the leap and requests a trade — or if the Bucks see writing on the wall and explore preemptive options — he’ll want more than just a new jersey. I’m told he’s looking for three things: Staying in the Eastern Conference, to keep his travel and media profile intact; being in a position of control, with a voice in roster building and coaching direction; a market where other stars would want to join him — a place that isn’t just a destination for him, but could become a destination because of him,” Robinson wrote. 

“To be clear, Giannis Antetokounmpo has not asked out of Milwaukee. But as teams prepare for all possibilities, league chatter is heating up. Toronto and Brooklyn are not just random names in the rumor mill — they’re targets, shaped by what Giannis values: control, environment, and a platform to recruit talent.”