The Milwaukee Bucks had a truly disappointing end to what was the best regular season in the NBA this season. After their 4-1 series loss to the Miami Heat in the opening round of the NBA Playoffs, the Bucks made the decision to fire head coach Mike Budenholzer. After Budenholzer’s dismissal, NBA analysts, once again, started speculating about Giannis Antetokounmpo’s future in Milwaukee. Brian Windhorst went so far as to say the New York Knicks are not even 100% focused on their playoff series because they are keeping an eye on what is going down in Milwaukee.
Multiple NBA Writers and Analysts Throw Doubt on Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Future with the Milwaukee Bucks
Unfortunately, Windhorst (who famously spouted the conspiracy theory that Giannis would request a trade immediately after signing his super max extension) is not the only national personality or writer that believes [hopes] that Giannis will leave Milwaukee. Stephen A. Smith, too, on ESPN’s “First Take,” stated that he would not rule out the possibility that Giannis would want to play with New York.
.@stephenasmith isn't ruling out the possibility of Giannis wanting to come to the Knicks 👀 pic.twitter.com/D7Cn3WVbkD
— First Take (@FirstTake) May 5, 2023
Now, Giannis is eligible to sign an extension that will keep him in Milwaukee beyond his current super max deal. Of course, the Bucks would love for that to happen sooner rather than later. Perhaps, though, they need to find a head coach. Regardless, for as long as Giannis does not sign the extension, national media members will throw out the notion that he wants to leave.
Giannis Antetokounmpo Said Himself that He Never Wants to Leave the Milwaukee Bucks
Listen. Giannis Antetokounmpo loved head coach Jason Kidd. When the Bucks fired, Kidd, Giannis accepted the organization’s decision. As much as he might have loved Coach Bud, he also probably knows that this was the best move too. Giannis is all about winning, about improving. Milwaukee firing their head coach is proof that they, too, are not content with regular season success. The goal, every single year, is to win a championship.
If that logic were not enough, here is what Giannis said in an interview on CBS on March 31 of this year:
“I wear my heart on my sleeve and I really appreciate people that gave my an opportunity to change my life, my parents’ life, my kids’ life. I don’t that that for granted, I don’t take that lightly. The first time I was able to leave and be a free agent and join another team, I chose to stay with the Milwaukee Bucks because they helped me, they guided my through all the processes when I was an 18-year-old.
“I will always have that in my mind and in my heart and as long as I’m healthy and as long as they want me to be a part of the Milwaukee Bucks Organization, I would love to stay there.”
Now, the national talking heads and annoying opposing fanbases will still claim that Giannis wants to leave Milwaukee. Unfortunately for them, all those claims are and will be based on wishful thinking and a desire for attention on social media.
Milwaukee is Giannis’ city. He’s not leaving.
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