For the last few weeks, there has been a lot of speculation about Giannis Antetokounmpo’s future with the Milwaukee Bucks.
When it’s time for him to sign a new contract, will he agree to more years with the Bucks or will he go elsewhere?
“If I had to predict, I’d probably say elsewhere,” Brian Windhorst said on ESPN, courtesy of NBACentral.
Windhorst said that the Bucks are still one of the best teams in the East but noted that the NBA’s contract rules, regulations, and taxes mean that it’s very hard for a team like this to stay together.
That could get in the way of them winning another Finals, which could get in the way of Antetokounmpo remaining.
Brian Windhorst predicts that Giannis Antetokounmpo’s next contract will be outside of Milwaukee 😳
(h/t @BasketballOnX ) pic.twitter.com/L4qnUp3Oni
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) September 23, 2023
The taxes that hurt strong teams are one thing, but the demand of playing in Milwaukee – or, really, the lack thereof – is another.
There are not many players banging on the door of the Bucks trying to sign up and play there.
That is partly because Milwaukee is seen as something of a small market.
But it’s also because that team is clearly and firmly Antetokounmpo’s.
A lot of A-list talent doesn’t want to come to a team where they know they will be second-in-command.
If Antetokounmpo made it clear that he wants to retire in Milwaukee, Windhorst wouldn’t be concerned about his future.
But the fact that he has repeatedly left the door open to leaving in the next few years is very bad news for the Bucks.
There are many things working against this Milwaukee team – and Antetokounmpo seems less committed to them than ever before.
All of this is turning into a very big headache for fans of the Bucks.
NEXT: Analyst Details What Bucks Must Do To Keep Giannis Antetokounmpo
