Milwaukee Bucks: Giannis Antetokounmpo still looking for a way forward with the team

Last night, it was reported that Giannis and the Bucks are in conflict over his health and playing status. He maintains that he is healthy and should be playing, though the team claims that his knee is not healed enough yet to be cleared.

The quote for Eric Nehm’s story on this development in The Athletic that has been circulated the most was this statement from the Bucks’ superstar:

“You know who you are dealing with. So for somebody to come and tell me to not play or not to compete, it’s like a slap in my face. So, I don’t know where the relationship goes from there.”

This, of course, is not the kind of thing Bucks fans want to hear. On its surface, it appears that Milwaukee and their superstar are headed for a breakup.

And they very well might. However, one quote from Giannis in that same article that is not being circulated as much, if at all, is this:

“We gotta go into couples therapy. Go, consultation, couples therapy, sit down, you know, tell their side, I’m going to tell my side and find a solution. Amicably. Right? That’s the word. Find a solution together.”

This is not to say that Giannis and the Bucks are going to be able to figure out a way forward. But what it does mean is that any reporting saying that the 10-time All-Star wants out of Milwaukee are not true.

He wants to stay with the Bucks. He wants to win with the Bucks.

This being said, Giannis is eligible for another supermax contract extension in October. If, during negotiations this summer, he tells Milwaukee that he will not sign the extension, then it will be the true signal of the end of his tenure with the Bucks.

In that event, Milwaukee will undoubtedly trade him in order to recoup some draft picks, and perhaps some young players that they can start a re-build with.

But until that happens, if it happens, fans need to understand that Giannis wants to figure out a way to move forward with the Bucks. Whether or not they will be able to do so will surely be one of the most covered stories of the NBA off-season.