Giannis Antetokounmpo has been the focus of the offseason in the NBA, with the latest report on the two-time MVP suggesting he wants to stay with the Milwaukee Bucks.
Every offseason, there is always a rumor about Giannis potentially leaving Wisconsin, and it seems like it will once again just be a rumor. ESPN's Brian Windhorst was on Get Up this Tuesday morning and said, "Right now, there is no Giannis Antetokounmpo trade market, there are no Giannis Antetokounmpo trade discussions. He has not asked for it. The Bucks are not looking to trade him."
Giannis and his family have been on vacation in Brazil, and many fans have seen the fun they've been having across all their social media accounts.Coast to Coast Brasil has also reported on X that the superstar wants to stay put.
Giannis was asked about the NBA Finals and he said "There are two great teams that got there, two great teams… Indiana, with my friend Pascal Siakam, is reaping the rewards, and on OKC’s side, the MVP is simply there. I'm rooting for good basketball. That's it. The Finals are different, I hope to be back soon with the Bucks.”
Giannis wants to be a one-team player. The Bucks must repay his loyalty
With Damian Lillard likely to miss the majority of the 2025-26 season, it feels like next season may be a write-off for the Milwaukee Bucks in terms of contending, but what they need to do is build foundations around Giannis to then go compete. Even without Lillard, Milwaukee should be a playoff team in what is a weak Eastern Conference.
They only have one draft pick this year, and several players are hitting free agency, leaving Jon Horst with a bit of a roster reconstruction on his hands. Veteran center Brook Lopez and Jericho Sims, both being free agents, leave a large hole in the frontcourt, while Gary Trent Jr. signed a one-year prove-it deal, and now his asking price may be higher than what the Bucks are willing to pay.
Bobby Portis and Pat Connaughton are both expected to accept their player options, with the former more likely to still be a key piece of the roster. Milwaukee was reportedly shopping Connaughton this past season, but there were no willing suitors for the 32-year-old. Now that the Bucks are under the second apron, they can aggregate contracts, and that could be a game-changer for Horst.
The New York Knicks were a team that has always been suggested as a team to land Giannis, with them reportedly inquiring about Jason Kidd to come in as head coach, potentially hinting at a bold move to bring Giannis in.
At no point this offseason did we ever hear of Giannis asking out, just the rumor of him being more open to leaving the Milwaukee Bucks. That talk spreads every season, and no doubt it will happen again in the future. It seems like Giannis wants to be a one-team player, and all signs suggest that he is not going anywhere.