Current Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo is arguably the most beloved player in the history of the franchise. As one of the best players in the NBA, and certainly one of the greatest players of all-time, he could have decided to leave the league’s smallest market and play elsewhere. While he makes more NBA money with the Bucks than any other team could offer him, markets like Los Angeles or New York would give him many more opportunities to make millions off the court.
But, time and again, Giannis has re-signed with Milwaukee, citing his loyalty to the organization, his gratitude for them changing his and his family’s lives, and his love of the city.
Indeed, it is rare for an All-Star player to choose to stay with the Bucks when the opportunity to leave arises. However, not so long ago, another Milwaukee great did just that.
Milwaukee Bucks Legend Michael Redd Re-Signed with Team Instead of Joining LeBron James
Michael Redd was drafted by the Bucks in the second round of the 2000 NBA Draft, and he went on to become one of the best second round picks in franchise history. Redd’s shooting ability and offensive playmaking abilities made him the franchise’s best player for over half a decade.
After finishing second in NBA Sixth Man of the Year voting in 2003, he became the starting shooting guard following the trade of Ray Allen to the Seattle Supersonics. What followed was six-straight seasons of Redd averaging 20+ points per game, and, as is always the case when a Bucks player emerges as a star, rumors that he would leave.
In a recent video posted on X (formerly Twitter), Redd revealed that he had the opportunity to leave the Bucks as a free agent in 2005. What is more, his home state team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, wanted him so that they could pair him with their young superstar: LeBron James.
That time I almost got traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers to team up with LeBron James in his prime. A Trade Machine-like NBA moment that few people remember…
— Michael Redd (@MichaelRedd_) March 24, 2025
But instead of teaming up with LeBron, Redd stated that he wanted to be the man, to have his own franchise. “That was the mentality,” he said. As a result, he signed a six-year $90 million contract to remain with Milwaukee.
A couple years later, while Redd and LeBron were teammates on Team USA during the 2008 Olympics, there were rumblings that the Cavaliers might acquire him from Milwaukee via trade. “I was kind of anticipating [getting traded to Cleveland],” Redd confessed. “There were billboards about me coming to Cleveland. It was crazy at that time.”
But, of course, Redd was not traded to Cleveland. He goes on to say that, after he came down for breakfast with Team USA during the Olympics, LeBron looked at him and said, “We got your boy.”
Milwaukee had traded point guard Mo Williams to the Cavaliers.
In a follow up comment on his post, Redd wrote, “I’m glad I didn’t get traded. I loved and still love Milwaukee and the Bucks organization. But moments like these showed me how careers and legacies can turn on single decisions. One trade that never materialized changed the course for me and, maybe, LeBron.”
Redd stayed with the Bucks through the 2010-2011 season before playing one final year in the NBA with the Phoenix Suns.
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