Giannis Pulling Rank In Milwaukee?

[Ed Monix]

Giannis Antetokounmpo said he does not plan to sign a contract extension with the Milwaukee Bucks when he becomes eligible next month and that he won't sign one until he's comfortable knowing the organization will continue to compete for a championship.

In an interview with The New York Times published Thursday, the two-time MVP said "numbers-wise it doesn't make sense," adding that the organization still has something to prove before he potentially signs an extension next summer.

"Next summer it would make more sense for both parties. Even then, I don't know," Antetokounmpo said in the interview. "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."

"At the end of the day, being a winner, it's over that goal," Antetokounmpo told The Times. "Winning a championship comes first. I don't want to be 20 years on the same team and don't win another championship."

———

Source: Jamal Collier, ESPN

[Moranis]

Well maybe if he didn't miss 2 games and then in the closeout game go 10 of 23 from the line.  A game they were winning by 16 entering the 4th quarter.  They'd have won the title again this year. 

Financially it doesn't make sense for him to extend this summer, but he needs to stay healthy and learn how to hit some foul shots for Milwaukee to get back to the Finals.

[gouki88]

Well maybe if he didn't miss 2 games and then in the closeout game go 10 of 23 from the line.  A game they were winning by 16 entering the 4th quarter.  They'd have won the title again this year. 

Financially it doesn't make sense for him to extend this summer, but he needs to stay healthy and learn how to hit some foul shots for Milwaukee to get back to the Finals.

It's so odd - his first two All-Star seasons, he was around the 77% mark from the line. Since then, 68%, including 2 seasons below 65%.

A similar thing happened to Westbrook, except more dramatic. Russ was an 82% FT shooter over his first 9 seasons. Since then? 69% over 5 seasons.

How do these star players forget how to shoot FTs?

[hpantazo]

Well maybe if he didn't miss 2 games and then in the closeout game go 10 of 23 from the line.  A game they were winning by 16 entering the 4th quarter.  They'd have won the title again this year. 

Financially it doesn't make sense for him to extend this summer, but he needs to stay healthy and learn how to hit some foul shots for Milwaukee to get back to the Finals.

It's so odd - his first two All-Star seasons, he was around the 77% mark from the line. Since then, 68%, including 2 seasons below 65%.

A similar thing happened to Westbrook, except more dramatic. Russ was an 82% FT shooter over his first 9 seasons. Since then? 69% over 5 seasons.

How do these star players forget how to shoot FTs?

Practice and discipline

[SparzWizard]

Celtics should try to convince him if he wants to team up with Tatum, Brown, and Porzingis

[gouki88]

Well maybe if he didn't miss 2 games and then in the closeout game go 10 of 23 from the line.  A game they were winning by 16 entering the 4th quarter.  They'd have won the title again this year. 

Financially it doesn't make sense for him to extend this summer, but he needs to stay healthy and learn how to hit some foul shots for Milwaukee to get back to the Finals.

It's so odd - his first two All-Star seasons, he was around the 77% mark from the line. Since then, 68%, including 2 seasons below 65%.

A similar thing happened to Westbrook, except more dramatic. Russ was an 82% FT shooter over his first 9 seasons. Since then? 69% over 5 seasons.

How do these star players forget how to shoot FTs?

Practice and discipline

Giannis gets plenty of FT practice

[ozgod]

Well maybe if he didn't miss 2 games and then in the closeout game go 10 of 23 from the line.  A game they were winning by 16 entering the 4th quarter.  They'd have won the title again this year. 

Financially it doesn't make sense for him to extend this summer, but he needs to stay healthy and learn how to hit some foul shots for Milwaukee to get back to the Finals.

It's so odd - his first two All-Star seasons, he was around the 77% mark from the line. Since then, 68%, including 2 seasons below 65%.

A similar thing happened to Westbrook, except more dramatic. Russ was an 82% FT shooter over his first 9 seasons. Since then? 69% over 5 seasons.

How do these star players forget how to shoot FTs?

Practice and discipline

Or the yips

[kraidstar]

Well maybe if he didn't miss 2 games and then in the closeout game go 10 of 23 from the line.  A game they were winning by 16 entering the 4th quarter.  They'd have won the title again this year. 

Financially it doesn't make sense for him to extend this summer, but he needs to stay healthy and learn how to hit some foul shots for Milwaukee to get back to the Finals.

Milwaukee wasn't winning squat last year. They split the 2 games Giannis missed and gave up 127ppg to the Heat over 5 games. They were awful on defense all series. 

Their defense is on the decline. That was evident before the playoffs ever started. I don't expect it to improve going forward.

[Surferdad]

Even then, I don't know

Sounds like he's gone. I heard a rumor that he wants to go to the Knicks. 

[PAOBoston]

Will be very interesting to see how this plays out. Don’t think it will happen this year but Brad can go big fish hunting the year after. JB or KP plus picks. That being said, I do expect MIL to try and make moves to bolster that roster.

[Birdman]

Probably want a big market team like LA or New York

[kraidstar]

On a side note, my buddy was recently in Greece for a wedding and randomly bumped into Giannis and one of his brothers in a club. My friend chatted with the brother for a while, says they were very nice and approachable.

[bdm860]

As much as we like stars to be loyal and commit to their teams, this makes sense.  And it maybe it's just because Giannis is a likeable guy, but this is better than the fake "I want to stay here for life" and the also fake "I haven't thought about that yet, I'm just concentrating on this season."

He can sign a 3 year extension that would take him through '28 (or maybe '29 not sure how the option year on his current contract works with this).  And this season Lopez will be 35, Jrue will be 33, and Middleton will be 32.  And all the Bucks 1st round picks from '24 to '27 are traded away or the worse end of a swap, and they have no desirable young players, and not a top free agent destination.  Really what are the Bucks going to look like in '25, '26, '27?  Who would really want to commit to that situation long term, where if you do you risk ending up like Lillard?

[johnnygreen]

Giannis Antetokounmpo said he does not plan to sign a contract extension with the Milwaukee Bucks when he becomes eligible next month and that he won't sign one until he's comfortable knowing the organization will continue to compete for a championship.

In an interview with The New York Times published Thursday, the two-time MVP said "numbers-wise it doesn't make sense," adding that the organization still has something to prove before he potentially signs an extension next summer.

"Next summer it would make more sense for both parties. Even then, I don't know," Antetokounmpo said in the interview. "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."

"At the end of the day, being a winner, it's over that goal," Antetokounmpo told The Times. "Winning a championship comes first. I don't want to be 20 years on the same team and don't win another championship."

———

Source: Jamal Collier, ESPN

Is Giannis calling out his teammates? It seems to me that ownership and management have paved the way for the team to win titles. That bolded quote just stands out to me.

[SHAQATTACK]

Subtract his body off  the court , they would struggle to earn a playoff spot IMO .

Giannis certainly matters .

I d trade Brown for Giannis