Will Giannis Antetokounmpo Be Traded This Season? A Brief Recap Of Offseason Rumors

There was a anticipation that nan 2025-26 NBA play would've started pinch Giannis Antetokounmpo connected different squad isolated from nan Bucks, wherever he's spent his full 12-year profession frankincense far. Trade rumors circulated for months, pinch Antetokounmpo feeding into them astatine points, but nan two-time MVP decided to stay successful Milwaukee to commencement nan season.

There's ever still a chance Antetokounmpo could beryllium traded sometime during this season, particularly if nan Bucks don't unrecorded up to nan standards nan nine-time All-Star sets.

It's important to statement that Antetokounmpo's existent statement pinch nan Bucks is scheduled to return him done nan 2027 play pinch a $62.7 cardinal subordinate action for 2028.

The Bucks unfastened up their play connected Wednesday nighttime against nan Wizards. As nan NBA play commences, here's a look backmost astatine nan offseason rumors and reports that circulated regarding Antetokounmpo's early connected nan Bucks.

Feb. 2025: Antetokounmpo expresses desire for Bucks to commencement winning again

Midway done nan 2024-25, ESPN's Shams Charania came retired pinch a study stating that Antetokounmpo "loves nan Bucks," but "he loves winning more." This is erstwhile nan communicative of Antetokounmpo perchance wanting to caput to a winning squad genuinely began. There was a batch connected nan statement pinch nan Bucks heading into nan playoffs—they needed to triumph to support their prima subordinate happy.

April-June 2025: Teams show liking successful Antetokounmpo correct aft Bucks playoff elimination

The Bucks couldn't present nan wins Antetokounmpo needed arsenic they mislaid successful nan first information of nan 2025 NBA playoffs. Milwaukee hasn't surpassed nan first information of nan playoffs since 2021, erstwhile they past won a title. It's clear Antetokounmpo is getting weary of waiting for nan Bucks to person postseason occurrence again. He didn't reside waste and acquisition rumors correct aft nan Bucks lost, though. He didn't want his words to beryllium skewed.

The rumors soared disconnected successful May erstwhile Charania reported that Antetokounmpo getting traded aliases staying pinch Milwaukee would beryllium nan first large "domino" to autumn successful nan offseason. Antetokounmpo ne'er formally requested a waste and acquisition from nan team, though. He was reportedly unfastened to waste and acquisition offers.

A study from NBA insiders Marc Stein and Jake Fischer stating "every squad has called Milwaukee" astir nan superstar followed. There was decidedly liking successful Antetokounmpo leaving nan Bucks.

July 2025: Antetokounmpo gives cryptic consequence to waste and acquisition rumors

Antetokounmpo was asked astir nan waste and acquisition rumors again successful July connected a watercourse and gave a very cryptic answer. He went connected astir nan taxes being amended successful Florida, Los Angeles and New York, earlier he replied by saying this: "Ah, probably. Probably [stay successful Milwaukee]. We'll see. We'll see. Probably. I emotion Milwaukee."

This video lit nan waste and acquisition rumor occurrence moreover much than immoderate reports had done earlier because it came consecutive from Antetokounmpo's mouth. He didn't contradict a waste and acquisition aliases corroborate he'd beryllium staying successful Milwaukee.

Sept. 2025: Antetokounmpo says he expects to beryllium traded from Bucks 1 day

After nan rumors quieted down for rather immoderate time, Antetokounmpo was asked successful September again astir being traded from nan Bucks. He admitted successful an question and reply pinch a Greek outlet that he expects to beryllium traded 1 time arsenic it's conscionable nan business of nan league. He whitethorn moreover find retired astir that waste and acquisition connected societal media based connected really nan news situation useful nowadays.

Antetokounmpo additionally referenced nan shocking Luka Dončić waste and acquisition and really astonishing that was backmost successful February, truthful he knows thing is imaginable successful nan NBA.

Sept. 2025: Antetokounmpo admits that he's assured successful 2025-26 Bucks

After it was reported that Antetokounmpo would at slightest beryllium starting nan play pinch nan Bucks, nan two-time MVP had a candid question and reply astir nan offseason speculation of him being traded. He admitted location was immoderate truth to nan rumors arsenic location is each year, and he did see being traded. Later on, Charania reported that nan Knicks stood retired arsenic a apical campaigner to waste and acquisition for Antetokounmpo.

His biggest tie for being connected an NBA squad is to triumph games and championships, which is thing antecedently reported from past season. Antetokounmpo doubled down connected his assurance for nan Bucks this upcoming play erstwhile addressing those thoughts.

"My assurance is an all-time precocious correct now," Antetokounmpo said astatine nan time. "I consciousness really bully astir myself. I consciousness really bully astir nan team, and I'm excited to beryllium there. I really judge successful this team. ... I deliberation we're a very, very vulnerable team."

Antetokounmpo could still beryllium traded successful nan 2025-26 season

Although it seemed for illustration Bucks fans could respire a sigh of alleviation aft Antetokounmpo didn't get traded successful nan offseason, there's still nan interest that he could beryllium traded during nan 2025-26 season. Charania precocious reported this month that Antetokounmpo's early successful Milwaukee could heavy dangle connected really nan Bucks commencement nan season.

It's nary concealed that Antetokounmpo's apical privilege is to triumph a championship, and if he doesn't get nan consciousness that nan Bucks tin do that this play aliases immoderate clip soon, past he could petition to beryllium traded elsewhere.

Antetokounmpo was asked astir this report, and he admitted to not person publication it, but he did look to backmost up nan connection some. He said he's committed to nan Bucks correct now and believes afloat successful his teammates, but he acknowledged his stance could alteration arsenic nan play goes on.

"Now, if successful six, 7 months, I alteration my mind I deliberation that's quality too, you're allowed to make immoderate determination you want, but I'm locked in. I'm locked successful to this team. I'm locked successful to these guys, to this group and to this coaching unit and to myself."

It sounds for illustration nan Antetokounmpo waste and acquisition rumors could proceed connected for a while.

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