Giannis Antetokounmpo shoots down potential trade rumors for 2020-21 season
In an interview with Yahoo! Sports, superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo squashed any trade talk in the face of the Milwaukee Bucks’ end to their 2019-20 season.
The Milwaukee Bucks‘ 2019-20 season came to an end Tuesday night and it didn’t take long for Giannis Antetokounmpo to address the elephant in the room.
The Greek superstar didn’t play in the Bucks’ Game 5 loss to the Miami Heat, but talked with reporters where he addressed the team’s future in the face of a humiliating exit in the Eastern Conference Semi-finals, all of which came after the league’s best record for the second straight season.
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On that front, it was only natural for Antetokounmpo to speak on his own future, especially with his 2021 free agency being a prevalent topic of speculation among league circles and followers of the NBA.
Speaking to Yahoo! Sports’ Chris Haynes after the loss, Antetokounmpo addressed his immediate plans and reiterated his plans to honor out the final year of his current contract in Milwaukee as opposed to seeking a trade of any sort:
"“It’s not happening. That’s not happening,” Antetokounmpo told Yahoo Sports after the Bucks were eliminated in five games in the second round by the Miami Heat on Tuesday night.“Some see a wall and go in [another direction]. I plow through it. We just have to get better as a team, individually and get right back at it next season.”"
Of course, Antetokounmpo’s loyalty is well-known, but it was only natural to wonder whether Antetokounmpo would follow the path of recent superstars who have pushed for a move elsewhere, despite being under contract.
And with the Bucks not just falling short of winning a title this season, but taking a huge step back after losing to the Heat five games in the Conference Semifinals would have only stoked the rumor mill. On that topic, Antetokounmpo talked about the disappointment of falling short of his and the Bucks’ pursuit of a championship:
"“If winning a championship was easy, everyone would have one,” Antetokounmpo told Yahoo Sports. “We lost. Everyone saw that we lost. It’s disappointing, but what are we going to do? We’re going to keep working. I’ve got confidence in my teammates.”"
It’s essential to point out that while Antetokounmpo spoke of his desire to stay in Milwaukee for next season, it shouldn’t necessarily be a peek into how he will evaluate his future once he hits free agency in the 2021 offseason, whenever that is. Still, his comments make it crystal clear that he will be a Buck for at least one more season.
With their time in the bubble down in Orlando now having come to a close, Antetokounmpo reflected on the experience in with the season restart and how this latest setback will only motivate him further going into next season as Eric Woodyard of ESPN relayed:
"“As a team, we had fun. I think we enjoyed every minute, second in the bubble. Obviously, playing in a place like this with no family, no fans, it was tough,” Antetokounmpo said. “Obviously, that’s not an excuse, it’s tough for everybody, but looking back to the bubble, nobody’s going to be happy for the outcome we had in our playoff run.”He added: “At the end of the day, we’ve got to learn from everything that goes on in your life and in your career. Hopefully we can learn from this and get better as a team and come back and hopefully we can build a culture in Milwaukee for many years, that we can come out here and compete every single year for a championship.”"
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Antetokounmpo is very much at the heart of the Bucks’ culture and quest for an NBA championship. How that pursuit ends up next season, whenever it is played, will have a consequential impact on Antetokounmpo’s long-term future in Milwaukee.