Even though two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo has one of the NBA’s most lucrative contracts, his worth for the Milwaukee Bucks cannot be estimated. That’s why there’s a reason why he’s among the franchise’s most underpaid players heading into the 2024-25 season.
Around a year ago, Antetokounmpo agreed to a three-year, $186 million contract extension with Milwaukee. The deal will keep the two-time MVP under contract with the Bucks through the 2027-28 season.
Antetokounmpo has been a cornerstone of the Bucks franchise since being drafted 15th overall in 2013. He has transformed into one of the league’s elite players, leading the Bucks to an NBA championship in 2021. The Bucks GM, Jon Horst, and Antetokounmpo’s agent, Alex Saratsis, worked out the details of the extension, which includes a player option for the 2027-28 season.
During that period, the Greek Freak expressed his commitment to the Bucks, stating that Milwaukee is where he started his career and where he wants to continue to work hard to make the fans proud. The extension ensures that the Bucks’ core of Antetokounmpo and Lillard will have ample time to develop and compete for championship aspirations in the coming years.
Why Two-Time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo Is One of the Milwaukee Bucks’ Most Underpaid Players
While most people would think that Antetokounmpo’s massive contract wouldn’t make him one of the franchise’s most underpaid players, there’s actually a good reason to believe otherwise. In an article written by Cody Smith for Behind the Buck Pass, that reason is explained.
“It’s hard to argue that a player who’s about to bring home $48.8 million this season can be underpaid, but that’s exactly the case when it comes to Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo for the 2024-25 NBA season.
Based on other contracts from other top talents across the league, Antetokounmpo doesn’t even rank within the top 10 in earnings this year, coming in with the 12th-highest salary behind the likes of Stephen Curry, Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid, Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal, Jaylen Brown, Devin Booker, Karl-Anthony Towns, Paul George, Kawhi Leonard and Jimmy Butler.
Sure, with some of those names mentioned above — like Curry, Jokic and Embiid — you could make the argument that they each deserve similar paydays as the Greek Freak, but most of them don’t come close in terms of the impact that they need to have in order to pile up W’s for their respective franchises that Antetokounmpo does.
One could still argue that Giannis is the best player in the NBA right now. And if you don’t agree, at bare minimum, he’s still a top-three talent,” Smith wrote.
Last season, the Greek Freak averaged 30.4 points, 11.5 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game. Unfortunately, he sustained a calf injury right before the Bucks’ first-round matchup against the Indiana Pacers, leaving him unable to prevent their elimination.
It remains to be seen whether Antetokounmpo can continue giving value to Milwaukee or get left behind again with an injury. What’s certain, though, is that when healthy, every dollar in his contract is worth it for the Bucks.
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