Giannis Antetokounmpo has spent his entire NBA career with the Milwaukee Bucks. He’s won MVPs in Milwaukee, an NBA title with the Bucks, represented the team in a record nine straight All-Star Games and has nearly all of the franchise records.
His goal in all of it, as he continues along in his Hall of Fame career, is to compete for championships.
Will that continue to be in Milwaukee for years to come?
Antetokounmpo’s future has been a hot button talking point at the national level for years and it went into overdrive this past offseason after the Bucks bowed out in the first round of the playoffs for the third straight season.
What’s real, what’s a rumor and what’s just mindless chatter on social media? Could Antetokounmpo’s time in Milwaukee actually be on borrowed time? And would he want out?
With the New York Knicks coming to Milwaukee for the first time this season on Oct. 28 — the team that had a discussion with the Bucks this offseason about Antetokounmpo — here’s a closer look at what we know.
We’ll update this file throughout the season with reporting from the Journal Sentinel, news from reputable sources as it surfaces and other stories of interest regarding Antetokounmpo’s future.
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Giannis Antetokounmpo 2025 NBA season
Giannis Antetokunmpo returned to Milwaukee following a summer of reports about his future. He’s under contract for the next two seasons but the 2025-26 season will be critical for the direction of the franchise.
Antetokounmpo began the season with a monster 37-point, 14-rebound, five-assist game in a 133-120 win over former teammate Khris Middleton and the Washington Wizards on Oct. 22 at home.
Fans at Fiserv Forum welcomed Antetokounmpo back for another season with thunderous cheers.
Giannis trade rumors: Bucks, Knicks
But about two weeks before the season opener, ESPN released a report on Oct. 7 that the Knicks and Bucks engaged in a trade discussion for Antetokounmpo later in the summer.
League sources told the Journal Sentinel multiple times this offseason the Bucks have had no interest in trading Antetokounmpo. ESPN reported that “New York did not make a strong enough offer to continue even discussing a trade” and that the Bucks were not seriously entertaining moving their star.
Antetokounmpo also did not request to be moved.
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Giannis trade rumors: Antetokounmpo addresses ESPN report
A day after ESPN’s report came out, Antetokounmpo spoke on the matter.
“First of all, I haven’t read that story,” Antetokounmpo said. “When the season starts, I try to get off social media and I try to focus on my craft and the team. But yeah, I’ve said this many times, I want to be in a situation that I can win and now I’m here. I believe in this team. I believe in my teammates. I’m here to lead this team to wherever we can go and it’s definitely going to be hard. We’re going to take it day-by-day, but I’m here. So, all the other extra stuff does not matter.
“I think I’ve communicated with my teammates, communicated with the people I respect and love that the moment I step on this court or in this facility, I wear this jersey, the rest does not matter. I’m locked into whatever I have in front of me. Now, if in six, seven months, I change my mind, I think that’s human too, you’re allowed to make any decision you want.”
Giannis Antetokounmpo contract
In 2023 Antetokounmpo signed a three-year contract extension for $175.3 million. He has a player option in two years and he becomes an unrestricted free agent after the 2027-2028 season but he will most definitely sign a new contract somewhere before it gets to that point.
He first signed a four-year extension following his roookie deal in 2017 for $100 million, according to Spotrac, and then a five-year super max contract extension in 2021 for $228.2 million.
Before signing his most recent contract extension two years ago, Antetokounmpo said about his future: “We are judged in winning games, right? So I want to win,” Antetokounmpo said Oct. 2, 2023. “I’ve always wanted to win. I still want to win. And it’s always going to be like that. I want to be a part of a winning team and I feel like, I hope everyone feel that way, I do feel that way. For the team I definitely see, the last couple of years, I see the commitment from the team they’ll do whatever they can to make this team a championship-level team, so I’m happy.”
Is Giannis leaving the Bucks?
Antetokounmpo has never requested a trade from the Bucks and the team has been publicly committed to building around their superstar from the acquisitions of Jrue Holiday in 2020 to Damian Lillard in 2023 to Myles Turner this past offseason.
“Milwaukee, for me, it is home. I cannot see raising my family somewhere else, because I came as a kid and I’m a man with three kids and a fourth one on the way,” Antetokounmpo told the Journal Sentinel’s Lori Nickel in February. “So, I cannot see myself raising my family in … New York or, I don’t know, L.A. I could see raising my family in Greece, Athens, where I’m from. And Milwaukee.”
When the Bucks were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs in April, Antetokounmpo was asked if he could win another title in Milwaukee: “Look, I’m not, I’m not, I’m not gonna do this. I’m not gonna do this. I know how, whatever I say, I know how it’s going to translate. I’m not; I don’t know, man. I wish I was still playing, I wish I was still like competing and going back to Milwaukee. I don’t know.”
Amid all the reports over the summer about Antetokounmpo evaluating his options, he told local media on Media Day on Sept. 29, “Of course, yes. Guys, every summer there’s truth to every report. The same thing I’ve been saying my whole career. I want to be on a team that allows me, gives me a chance to win a championship and wants to compete at a high level.”
Giannis Antetokounmpo age
Giannis is 30 years old. He turns 31 on Dec. 6.
He’s still in the prime of his career and a dominant force on the court.
Giannis Antetokounmpo stats in 2025
Antetokounmpo has gotten off to a tremendous start to the 2025-26 season. He earned Eastern Conference Player of the Week honors after averaging 36.0 points (second in the NBA), 16.0 rebounds (first) and 7.0 assists (tied for 14th) through the first three games.
He’s shooting 68.3% and has also hit 4 of 6 from three-point range.
Giannis Antetokounmpo stats, career highlights
Antetokounmpo is in his 13th NBA season, all with the Bucks. Milwaukee selected him when he was 18 years old out of Greece and was largely unknown.
He has become one of the game’s all-time greats, winning nearly every award there is out there in the NBA. He’s a brand himself in the NBA and on the world stage.
Antetokounmpo is the Bucks franchise leader in games played, minutes played, field goals made, points, free throws made and attempted, offense rebounds, defensive rebounds, total rebounds, assists and blocks.
Since becoming a first-time All-Star in 2017, Antetokounmpo has averaged 28.5 points per game the last nine seasons, including over 30 in the last three. He scored a franchise-record 64 points in a game during the 2023-24 season.
For his career he is averaging 24.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.2 blocks, 1.1 steals and 55.1% from the field.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Giannis Antetokounmpo trade rumors, live updates during the 2025-26 NBA season
Reporting by Christopher Kuhagen and Jim Owczarski, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
