Giannis Antetokounmpo quashes Bucks trade rumors with passionate NBA Finals comments
If Giannis Antetokounmpo wants a trade off the Milwaukee Bucks in the middle of his prime, he's, quite frankly, doing a terrible job of showing it. As it turns out, a recent report from NBA executives who are skeptical about Antetokounmpo actually requesting a trade from the Bucks this offseason seems to have a lot of credence to it.
Look no further than Antetokounmpo's comments in a recent interview with Coast to Coast Brazil.
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While talking about the 2025 NBA Finals featuring the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers, Antetokounmpo waxed poetic. The two-time MVP and 2021 NBA champion maintained that he believes the NBA Finals are uniquely special, and would like to someday soon return there with ... Milwaukee.
Oh, huh. That's quite the bombshell to drop in mid-June.
'There are two great teams that got there,' Antetokounmpo said, referring to the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers reaching the 2025 Finals presented by YouTube TV, 'Indiana, with my friend Pascal Siakam, is reaping the rewards, and OKC simply has the MVP [Shai Gilgeous-Alexander]. I'm rooting for good basketball.'
'The Finals are different, I hope to be back soon with the Bucks."
Of course, this won't and shouldn't necessarily end any Antetokounmpo trade speculation. Just because Antetokounmpo expresses a desire to stay with the Bucks right now, in this present moment, it doesn't mean he won't change his mind later. Also, after Antetokounmpo's running mate, Damian Lillard, tore his Achilles, the Bucks don't really have a straightforward path to return to the NBA's biggest stage any time soon, barring some unexpected blockbuster moves.
But I suppose we shouldn't doubt Antetokounmpo's loyalty to Milwaukee and his trying to be a one-team player for the duration of his career. That's the kind of picture the superstar has painted thus far in his career. He brought the Bucks their first championship in half a century. He's probably the greatest Bucks player of all time.
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It's not too shocking to see him express a desire to stay, even if it might not last long.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Giannis Antetokounmpo likely to return to Bucks after NBA Finals comments
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