Giannis Antetokounmpo is a member of the Heat now, but he’s still teasing Bucks fans. In a recent podcast appearance, the Greek Freak expressed a desire to return to Milwaukee after his time with the Heat is done. It’s a tempting thought for Bucks fans, but not something they should cling to for planning their team’s future.
Giannis’ return could be nothing more than a myth
Bucks fans already spent a full year hearing from Giannis how he wanted to remain loyal to their team but it didn’t stop his eventual trade. Falling for the same thing again, especially when Giannis isn’t even on the team anymore, is a pointless venture.
It makes sense for Giannis to make this statement, since rejoining the Bucks at some point will give him good PR - even if he’s barely able to contribute by that point. He might also be protecting against the possibility that the Heat end up disappointing with him leading the team. It’s good insurance for Giannis to know that he can rejoin his old team with loving fans no matter what happens in Miami.
But there’s absolutely no sure timeline of Giannis’ theoretical return. He’ll likely spend at least a few years pursuing a title with the Heat before deciding on his next move. He’s eligible to sign an extension through 2031 next January, which would already make a Bucks reunion farfetched for any time in the foreseeable future.
Giannis’ case isn’t necessarily like Dame
Antetokounmpo’s messy trade negotiations and the team’s ensuing disjointed roster have drawn comparisons to his former teammate Damian Lillard. After a couple seasons with the Bucks, Lillard returned to the Trail Blazers last summer. However, that move was arguably once possible because Lillard tore his Achilles in the previous postseason, which led to the Bucks stretching and waiving his contract.
It would be next to impossible for the Bucks to trade for Giannis back in the next few seasons unless he also suffers a massive injury or decline. That leaves free agency as their only other option for acquiring a star version of Giannis. But if he signs the expected extension in January, he’ll be locked up until he turns 36.
To be fair, that’s how old Lillard now is before playing any games in his second Blazers stint. But it’s also why nobody expects too much out of Dame or the Blazers next season. At his age, Dame is bound to see some decline rather than performing at the same All-NBA level we’re used to seeing.
The same will likely be true for Giannis when (if?) he eventually makes his way back to the Bucks. If fans are deluding themselves into thinking he will return as an All-Star, they could be making a sore mistake. Not to mention, it's still far from a guarantee whether or not Giannis will ever come back.
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