Giannis Antetokounmpo makes admission about offseason trade rumors

Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo did not necessarily deny that he spent at least a portion of the offseason assessing his future with the organization.

Anteteokounmpo told reporters Monday that he did evaluate whether he would remain with the Bucks during the offseason. He added he has done the same in previous offseasons, and that he has every intention of continuing to do so.

“The same thing I’ve been saying my whole career. I want to be on a team that allows me and gives me a chance to win a championship,” Antetokounmpo said, via Jamal Collier of ESPN. “It is never going to change. I want to be among the best.

“It’s a disservice to basketball and just to the game, to not want it to compete in a high level, to want your season to end in April. It’s pretty much the same. It’s not the first time. I had the same thoughts last year. I had the same thoughts two years ago.”

As recently as August, there were questions about whether Antetokounmpo might ask the Bucks to trade him. Since winning the NBA title in 2021, the franchise has suffered four straight early exits in the playoffs, including three straight first-round losses. That is obviously not good enough for a player who openly wants a second championship and expects to contend for one every year.

For now, Antetokounmpo appears content with Milwaukee. This could be a make-or-break season for the Bucks, though. Those are some fairly pointed words, and if the team cannot make some progress in the playoffs, he genuinely might look elsewhere.