Report: Rival Execs Hope Bucks ‘Fail Miserably’ So Giannis Antetokounmpo Thinks About Leaving

According to NBA reporter Sam Amick of The Athletic, rival execs hope the Milwaukee Bucks fail this season so Giannis Antetokounmpo thinks about leaving. 

The Bucks lost to the Indiana Pacers in the first round of the 2024 playoffs in the first year of the Antetokounmpo-Damian Lillard era. 

“As I shared with Antetokounmpo, rival front office executives are hoping the Bucks fail miserably so that he might consider an NBA life outside of Milwaukee,” Amick wrote. “(He is signed through the 2026-27 season and has a player option worth $62.7 million in 2027-28.) If Lillard struggles to be at his best again in a Bucks jersey, trade calls will inevitably come Milwaukee’s way about him. (He’s owed a combined $161.4 million for the next three seasons, with a player option in 2026-27.)”

The Bucks went 49-33 last season. Adrian Griffin was fired despite being 30-13. Joe Prunty went 2-1 before being taken over by Doc Rivers, who went only 17-19. 

“On a serious note, this is the job,” Antetokounmpo told Amick. “It’s the profession that we’re in. At any given moment, if you don’t succeed, that might be it for us. It was the same way with the previous coaching staff, and the year before, the players before. … If you don’t do a good enough job, you’re out.”

The Bucks have a “Big 3” of Antetokounmpo, Lillard and Khris Middleton.

All three All-Stars are making maximum money this season. 

“This year, a challenge for me is to be healthy,” Antetokounmpo said. “A challenge for me is to play in the playoffs, to get out of the f—— first round. Assert myself even more. Every year for me is important because one day, I’m going to be 35 or 36 or 38 and I’m going to be like, ‘Oh, my prime just went, and I wasn’t able to do something.’ So dominate.”

A future Hall of Famer, Antetokounmpo has career averages of 23.4 points, 9.8 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.2 blocks. He led the Bucks to the 2021 championship.