After over a decade together, Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks went their separate ways this summer. Still, even with the ugly divorce, Giannis wants to return to Milwaukee when he's done in Miami. Speaking on AnesTea The Podcast, the Greek Freak made it clear how much the team is still in his heart, signaling a desire to pull a Damian Lillard and return to his original team someday.
"When I finish this cycle with Miami, which I don't know when it will end, and if, I will definitely return to Milwaukee, and I don't know if they want me then."
Giannis watched how things unfolded similarly
The grass isn't always greener, right, Damian Lillard? After getting fed up with mediocrity in Portland, the guard requested a trade and ended up in Milwaukee in 2023. It was the definition of a blockbuster move. "Oh, the Bucks are title favorites now!" Everyone thought Lillard's departure was long overdue and thought he had a legitimate chance to compete again. He didn't.
It was clear that Lillard was never comfortable in Milwaukee. He never looked right. He had plenty of personal issues going on during that time, which impacted his play, but even beyond that, he never quite fit in. His time with the Bucks went so poorly that shortly after becoming a free agent, Lillard bolted back to Portland. It was clear that was where his heart was.
Giannis watched all of that unfold firsthand, and it could very well influence him later in his career.
Giannis' return would almost certainly come later
When Milwaukee cut Lillard, it was a historic move due to the amount of dead money they agreed to take on over the next several years. The guard only lasted two years with the Bucks. Giannis' stay in Miami will almost certainly be longer, given that it appears destined to sign a massive extension with the team in the coming months. Yet, once that expires, all bets are off.
Perhaps as he gets older, the itch to return to where it all started will overcome Giannis like it did with his former All-Star teammate. There is no telling how his tenure in Miami will unfold, but if things don't go as he envisioned, it could become plausible very quickly. Just like Lillard, Antetokounmpo would likely be welcomed back with open arms. Likely even more than Lillard was upon his return.
It won't be too shocking if No. 34 is worn in Milwaukee again before it eventually goes into the rafters. The question is how much time will go by before that happens.
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