The future of Giannis Antetokounmpo with the Milwaukee Bucks is uncertain as the team faces challenges in the current season.
Milwaukee has faced setbacks with several losses, and with a first-round playoff series against the Indiana Pacers approaching, the Bucks are not in optimal form heading into the postseason. Compounding the issue, Antetokounmpo’s availability for Game 1 against the Pacers is in question.
This situation raises the possibility of a first-round exit, which according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, could lead to doubts about Giannis’ future in Milwaukee.
“If they lose in the first round, the first person you’re worried about isn’t Dame, it’s Giannis,” Windhorst said on Get Up.
“If [the Bucks] go down in the first round again … I’m not sure where Giannis is going to be.”
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“You want to make sure Giannis is still committed, and also when you talk about this first round, you got to worry about where Giannis’s calf is, if he’s going to be 100%. But if they go down in the first round again, and they have that disappointment in back-to-back years, I’m not sure where Giannis is going to be.”
Windhorst also mentioned that the Bucks’ current predicament is partially due to a flawed roster.
“No matter what happens, this is a flawed roster,” he stated. “The panacea that they thought Dame Lillard was going to be wasn’t the case. They’re going to have to make changes one way or another, and they’ve basically mortgaged their entire draft in the future, so they’re going to have to get creative.
“And I do think it’s possible that Dame [being traded] could be looked at, but you have to ensure Giannis is on board with it first.”
Following their championship win in 2021, the Bucks have struggled to advance past the first round. They were eliminated by the Celtics in the 2022 Eastern Conference semifinals and by the Miami Heat in the first round of the 2023 playoffs.
Giannis is currently under contract for the next season, the final year of his five-year, $228 million deal. However, recent NBA history has shown star players demanding trades before their contracts expire. Milwaukee will be hoping that Giannis does not follow this trend.
READ MORE: Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Stance on Partnership With Damian Lillard
