Giannis Antetokounmpo On Playing For Bucks: ‘In Two Years, That Might Change’

The Bucks are fresh off their first championship in 50 years, and second ever, with former back-to-back league MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo leading the way.

But will Antetokounmpo be a Buck for life?

Well, from the sounds of things, that’s only a definite maybe.

“One challenge was to bring a championship here and we did,” Antetokounmpo told Zach Baron of GQ, via HoopsHype. “It was very hard, but we did. Very, very hard. I just love challenges. What’s the next challenge? The next challenge might not be here.” 

Antetokounmpo, 26, signed a supermax contract extension with the Bucks in December 2020. It was for five years. So the Bucks have him under contract through 2025. He will still be in his prime when the deal expires.

That said, a lot can happen between now and then. And Antetokounmpo was far from noncommittal to staying in Milwaukee. All he did was open the door, slightly, for a departure when he hits free agency.

“Me and my family chose to stay in this city that we all love and has taken care of us—for now,” he said. “In two years, that might change. I’m being totally honest with you. I’m always honest. I love this city. I love this community. I want to help as much as possible.”

Now, before you get too excited about The Greek Freak potentially joining your favorite team, consider the words of Alex Saratsis, Antetokounmpo’s longtime agent.

“I don’t think it’s, ‘I’m thinking about leaving the Bucks,’ ” Saratsis told Baron. “But I think he’s genuinely like: ‘OK, I have reached the pinnacle. The next challenge is, let’s repeat.’

“But what happens if you do repeat? What’s the next challenge? What is that next barrier? When you think about it from a basketball perspective, by the age of 26, this kid has accomplished everything. So sometimes you’re going to have to manufacture what those challenges are.”

Antetokounmpo is 6-foot-11 and averaging 26.5 points, 11.3 rebounds and 6.0 assists in 13 games this season. The Bucks (6-8) have gotten off to a relatively slow start, but most expect them to be right back in contention when things matter late in the season.