The long-term future of Giannis Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee remains one of the biggest storylines hanging over the NBA.
While the two-time MVP continues to perform at an elite level, the supporting cast around him has declined significantly since the Bucks captured their championship in 2021.
Despite his efforts, the team appears to be trending in the wrong direction, raising questions about how long Antetokounmpo will remain content in Milwaukee.
“Giannis has been just awesome this season,” said ESPN’s Brian Windhorst on the Hoop Collective Podcast.
“He’s clearly understood that they’re challenged. And he has cut the BS out of his game and cut the fat out of his game and tried doing everything he can to carry this team. And they’re just not good enough. And what is he supposed to do? This is the elephant in the room in the league right now. This team is losing tens of millions of dollars.”
The Bucks’ struggles aren’t just on the court. Financially, the franchise is facing steep losses, and their ability to reshape the roster is constrained by salary cap complications, most notably, the looming second-round restrictions and the uncertain free agency of veteran center Brook Lopez.
Milwaukee made a high-stakes move last offseason, trading for Damian Lillard and subsequently signing Antetokounmpo to a three-year, $186 million extension in October 2023.
That deal keeps Giannis under contract through at least the 2026-27 season, with a player option for 2027.
It echoed his earlier decision to commit to the franchise in 2020 by signing a supermax extension after the Bucks traded for Jrue Holiday – moves that led directly to the 2021 title.
Yet, despite the commitment from both sides, cracks are beginning to show. The Bucks attempted to retool the roster at the trade deadline by sending Khris Middleton to the Washington Wizards in exchange for Kyle Kuzma, a younger forward with scoring upside.
However, Kuzma has yet to make a significant impact, and the team continues to struggle with consistency.
Still, Windhorst was careful to note that none of the uncertainty around Giannis’ future is coming from the player himself.
“And the other thing I’ll say is from talking to people in and around Milwaukee, Giannis has given no indication throughout this entire season that he is not 100% focused on maximizing what the Bucks have,” Windhorst added.
“This is people in the league looking at the lay of the land, not anything that Giannis has said to anybody.”
As the Bucks weigh their options in an increasingly complex landscape – balancing financial constraints, aging stars, and championship expectations – the pressure is mounting.
Giannis Antetokounmpo's Future With Bucks 'The Elephant In The Room' In NBA https://t.co/ttewX0lwq8
— RealGM (@RealGM) April 23, 2025
