Giannis Antetokounmpo's future with the Milwaukee Bucks is up in the air, but as always, he wants to make it work in the 414 before going somewhere else. NBA analyst and insider Chris Haynes spoke to Giannis amid all of the recent trade chatter, and the Greek Freak told him something similar to what he said five years ago when the rumors were also swirling prior to the championship-winning season.
"There are people who see a door and want to hurry up and escape through it. But I see a wall and I want to run through the wall and make things work.”
Giannis' heart will always be in Milwaukee
The former MVP has always been in trade rumors, but the two times when it felt like a divorce was a legitimate possibility were in the summer of 2020 and now. In 2020, despite a playoff run that ended in agonizing fashion, Giannis said, “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.”
Despite all of the chatter, Giannis committed to Milwaukee, and the Bucks went on to snap their 50-year title drought that season. He was vindicated for sticking with Milwaukee and winning it all the hard way. Now, he still very clearly wants to win in Milwaukee. Bucks fans would love it if this quote led to another championship.
The problem between then and now is that things are far bleaker. Back then, the Bucks were coming off a second-round exit and a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals. The current Bucks have been eliminated in the first round three straight times. There is no Jrue Holiday or Khris Middleton on this roster. Even with all of Mike Budenholzer's flaws, he was a better coach than Doc Rivers.
Giannis loves his challenges, but between roster moves, coaching choices, and ownership decisions, he might think the wall is too thick to plow through this time. The Greek Freak is not blameless in this reality, but he's certainly not the primary culprit behind these woes. Over the next few weeks, Giannis will have to decide whether or not he thinks this mountain is climbable.
The Milwaukee Bucks can look to make Giannis' decision simpler by winning. That's what this all boils down to. Unfortunately, they haven't managed to do much of that without their star player this season, as the Bucks are 1-6 without Giannis on the floor. With this calf strain set to sideline him for around a month, Milwaukee must turn things around in a hurry or give Giannis more reason to ask out.
If this team proves they can compete for a championship, all of this goes away.
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