Giannis hints he'd already leave Milwaukee if the choice was solely his, not the front office's.
Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo gave fans yet another reason to scratch their heads this week when he spoke to Greek media outlet COSMOTE TV about his future with the only franchise he has ever known.
"I don't know if I'll leave — it's not up to me," Antetokounmpo said. "If it was up to me, maybe I already would have left. In a year and a half, when I become a free agent at 32, it will be up to me."
The comments came just days after the trade deadline passed on February 5 without a deal being made, even though the Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks, Minnesota Timberwolves and Miami Heat all engaged in trade talks with Milwaukee's front office.
What Does That Even Mean?
Antetokounmpo has spent this entire season going back and forth about where he stands, and this latest quote might be the most confusing one yet because it somehow says he wants to stay and wants to leave at the same time.
Just weeks ago during All-Star Weekend, the two-time MVP told ESPN's Malika Andrews that he is committed to the Bucks and would never force his way out, saying he would never disrespect the people who have helped him and that he has no "camp" pushing for a move.
Now he is telling a Greek TV network that if the decision was up to him, he might have already left, which paints a very different picture for a fan base that is trying to figure out what their franchise player actually wants.
He also pointed directly to his free agency window in 2027, when he will be 32 years old, as the time when the decision will truly be in his hands and not the front office's.
By the Numbers
Even though the season has been rough for Milwaukee as a team, Antetokounmpo has still been one of the best players in the league when healthy, putting up 28.0 points, 10.0 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game while shooting 64.5 percent from the field in 30 games this season.
The problem is that the Bucks sit at 23-30 and are currently 12th in the Eastern Conference, which puts them on the outside of the play-in tournament looking in.
Antetokounmpo has dealt with a groin strain in November that led to a seven-game losing streak and then a calf strain in January that has kept him out of the last nine games, and the team simply has not been able to stay afloat without him on the court.
Why Milwaukee Should Trade Him This Summer
The Bucks kept Antetokounmpo at the deadline and only made a minor move, sending Cole Anthony and Amir Coffey out for Ousmane Dieng, while also signing free agent guard Cam Thomas off waivers after the Brooklyn Nets released him.
Milwaukee's front office has spent years trying to build around Antetokounmpo by trading away future assets in deals for Damian Lillard, Jrue Holiday and others, but the results have only gotten worse with three straight first-round playoff exits since the 2021 championship.
The cupboard is nearly bare in terms of draft picks and young assets, and with Giannis now openly referencing free agency and saying he might have already left if given the choice, the writing is on the wall for this franchise.
Trading him this summer while his value is at its highest would give the Bucks a real chance to restock the roster with young players and draft capital, rather than risk losing him for nothing when he hits free agency.
The longer Milwaukee waits, the more leverage they lose, and Giannis himself just told everyone exactly how this is going to end if the team does not figure things out soon.