Giannis Antetokounmpo Reveals Why He Might Leave Bucks Next Summer

Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Milwaukee Bucks to an NBA title in 2021, but his time in Milwaukee may soon be over.
Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

Milwaukee Bucks superstar forward Giannis Antetokounmpo will be eligible for a contract extension with the team in the summer of 2024. But whether he will end up agreeing to that extension is up in the air right now.

Antetokounmpo recently spoke to The New York Times' Tania Ganguli and admitted that he's not yet sure if he'll agree to a contract extension with the Bucks next summer.

“Next summer it would make more sense for both parties," Antetokounmpo said. "Even then, I don’t know. I would not be the best version of myself if I don’t know that everybody’s on the same page, everybody’s going for a championship, everybody’s going to sacrifice time away from their family like I do. And if I don’t feel that, I’m not signing.”

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Antetokounmpo, 28, has played ten seasons in the NBA, all as a member of the Bucks franchise. He averaged 31.1 points, 11.8 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 0.8 steals, and 0.8 blocks per game across 63 appearances during the 2022-23 regular season (all starts).

The Bucks' 2023 playoff run was short-lived, though. The team lost to Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat in five games in the first round of the postseason. Antetokounmpo missed two games of that series due to a back injury.

Celtics fans should be hoping that Antetokounmpo doesn't agree to an extension with the Bucks next summer. After all, the Bucks have long been one of the biggest threats to the Celtics in the Eastern Conference.

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Jesse Cinquini
JESSE CINQUINI

Jesse Cinquini is a 23-year-old sports journalist. He covers the Boston Celtics for Sports Illustrated Media Group.