Report: Acquiring Giannis Antetokounmpo ‘remains plan A’ for Nets

According to NBA reporter Brian Lewis of The New York Post, acquiring Giannis Antetokounmpo “remains plan A” for the Brooklyn Nets.

Antetokounmpo has spent his entire career with the Milwaukee Bucks, who signed the two-time MVP to a three-year, $175 million extension in October 2023. 

“Multiple league personnel that have spoken with The Post say Giannis Antetokounmpo has been and remains Plan A for the Nets,” Lewis wrote. “If Antetokounmpo gets traded elsewhere this summer, that may make GM Sean Marks’ path simple, tanking for another year and building through the lottery.”

Antetokounmpo led the Bucks to the 2021 championship against the Phoenix Suns.

However, Milwaukee has struggled in the postseason since then. 

The Bucks lost to the Boston Celtics in the second round of the 2022 playoffs, the Miami Heat in the first round of the 2023 playoffs and the Indiana Pacers in the first round of the 2024 playoffs. 

One of the greatest players in NBA history, Antetokounmpo told COSMOTE TV broadcasters Vassilis Skountis and Rigas Dardalis in February that he would never request a trade from the Bucks. 

“NBA is business,” Antetokounmpo said. “If I got traded, I would do my job, but I don’t think that I would ever text (and ask for a trade). I am not this kind of guy. They would have to kick me out. A lot of people don’t know me. A lot of people know me through things that they read or they watch me on TV. A lot of people see what other players do and assume I might do the same. But I’m going to be very honest with you, I’ve done what I said I would do since Day 1. And it hasn’t changed.”

A future Hall of Famer, Antetokounmpo has career averages of 23.9 points, 9.9 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.2 blocks. He’s one of three players in NBA history to win MVP and Defensive Player of the Year in the same season.