Giannis Antetokounmpo reportedly expresses loyalty amid rumors he s leaving Bucks

According to US sports media F/W columnist Gautam Warrier, rumors about the future of Bucks superstar Antetokounmpo continue to circulate. A parting of ways could happen at some point in the future, but he once again expressed his love for Milwaukee on The 2night Show. "I'm loyal," Antetokounmpo said. "Milwaukee gave me everything, they changed my life and my family's life. I want to live in the moment, and I want to win another championship with the Bucks."

While Antetokounmpo deserves praise for the player he is today, he does owe the Bucks a lot. They believed in him and gave him every opportunity to succeed in the NBA. Today, Antetokounmpo has an NBA championship, a Finals MVP, two MVPs and a DPOY on his resume. By the time his current contract ends in 2028, his salary will be $459 million. Not bad for someone who grew up in poverty.

Having said that, Bucks fans still can't breathe a sigh of relief from these comments. It seems that he also said in this episode that if the team cannot compete for the championship, he will consider the future of himself and his family. The message is clear. Antetokounmpo would prefer to stay with the Bucks, who selected him with the 15th overall pick in the 2013 NBA draft, but will consider his options if they are not capable of winning a championship. The 30-year-old has given management time to build a quality team around him, but they haven't had any success in recent years.

The Bucks have been eliminated in the first round each of the past three seasons. Injuries certainly played a role in that, but regardless, the team didn't have much of a chance to go all the way over the past two seasons. The Bucks made some moves this summer in hopes of improving and keeping Giannis Antetokounmpo happy. Earlier this offseason, they waived the injured Lillard and extended his contract to bring in Turner as a free agent. The Bucks also signed his brother, Alex Antetokounmpo, to a two-way contract on Monday to make him as comfortable as possible.

Ultimately, though, it will be the results that determine what Antetokounmpo does. If the Bucks pull out early again, it seems likely he'll make a claim. The nine-time All-Star can become a free agent in 2027 by opting out of his $62.7 million player option for the 2027-28 season, so it would be in the team's best interest to move him next year if he does want to leave. If Antetokounmpo is really available, many teams will want to introduce him. The Bucks did discuss trades with the Knicks during the offseason, but none even came close to coming to fruition. Antetokounmpo will ultimately require a huge package to be traded, but he'll be worth it.

Antetokounmpo will average 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 0.9 steals and 1.2 blocks per game for the Bucks in the 2024-25 season. He finished third in MVP voting and you would expect him to continue playing at this high level for a few years. If Antetokounmpo is surrounded by good enough players during this period, he is fully capable of leading a team to glory. What do you think?