Giannis Antetokounmpo and former Bucks trade target catch eyes with postgame gesture

The Milwaukee Bucks and Atlanta Hawks went at it on Saturday, with both teams getting excellent performances from their stars.

For the Bucks, Giannis Antetokounmpo had an MVP-esque showing without Damian Lillard in the mix, finishing with 36 points, 16 rebounds, eight assists and three steals. Atlanta's Bogdan Bogdanovic had a great outing himself with 38 points, 10 rebounds and four assists. After the battle concluded, these two well-documented friends swapped jerseys.

The postgame gesture reopened old wounds of a time when those two were nearly going to wear the same jersey.

Giannis Antetokounmpo and former Bucks trade target catch eyes with postgame gesture

Just before the 2020 NBA season began, for a brief moment, the Bucks were believed to have traded for both Bogdan Bogdanovic and Jrue Holiday, reshaping their backcourt entirely. At the time, it felt too good to be true, and ultimately, it was.

The NBA found out that the Bucks had illegally talked to the Sacramento Kings to get this deal going, and, according to Bogdanovic in a sit down with The Athletic's Sam Amick (Subscription required), he never agreed to the trade regardless, which he would have had to do in this sign-and-trade.

Bogdanovic ultimately signed with the Atlanta Hawks, and for the past several years, Bucks fans have only been able to wonder what could have been.

One of the biggest reasons missing out on Bogdanovic stung so much was due to his friendship with Giannis Antetokounmpo. At the time, the Bucks were trying to convince him to sign an extension, and when the deal fell through, it felt like that could hinder things mightily. However, he signed anyway.

If the Bucks are looking to make a move in the backcourt this off-season, perhaps they could try to land the wing once again, this time legally. His name popped up here and there in trade rumors over the course of this season, and perhaps they will again in the off-season.

He'd certainly fit in well with the Bucks, giving them an electric scorer and shooter, as he showcased in the battle between these two teams.

Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis.