Giannis willing to leave Bucks 'if there's a better situation' for title run
Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo isn't tied to the organization that he's spent his whole career with if a more fruitful opportunity arises.
"I'm a Milwaukee Buck, but most importantly I'm a winner, I want to win," Antetokounmpo told the 48 Minutes podcast. "I have to do whatever it takes for me to win. And if there's a better situation for me to win the Larry O'Brien, I have to take that better situation."
Antetokounmpo's comments come weeks after he told the New York Times that he wouldn't sign an extension in Milwaukee unless "everybody's on the same page."
The Bucks have put together back-to-back underwhelming postseason pushes since winning the championship in 2021, highlighted by a first-round loss to the No. 8 seed Miami Heat last year. As a result, the team fired longtime head coach Mike Budenholzer, replacing him with Toronto Raptors assistant Adrian Griffin - partially at Antetokounmpo's request.
While Milwaukee retained starters Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez in free agency, the team has one of the oldest cores in the league. Middleton, Lopez, and Jrue Holiday are all 32 or older.
Antetokounmpo has two full seasons and a player option remaining on the 5-year, $228 million deal he signed Dec. 15, 2020.