Late last month, Giannis Antetokounmpo made clear that he wasn’t about to commit to the Bucks for the long haul until he becomes certain that they can legitimately vie for titles. In an interview with The New York Times, he argued that signing a contract extension this year “doesn’t make sense … Next summer, it would make more sense for both parties.” And he’s right, “numbers-wise,” as he said. The clincher, however, is his disclosure that “even then, I don’t know. 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.”
For someone like Antetokounmpo, who had hitherto displayed unshakable loyalty for the small-market Bucks in spite of his pull as a two-time Most Valuable Player awardee, the statements signified a significant departure from the norm. And he wasn’t just having a bad day when the NYT’s Tania Ganguli sat down with him. Last week, he reiterated his stance on “48 Minutes,” a podcast hosted by former assistant coach Ross Geiger. “I want to be a winner. Contracts, fame, status, comfort zone does not matter to me, What matters the end of the day is that thing right there,” he contended as he pointed to the Larry O’Brien Trophy behind him.
Antetokounmpo acknowledged the significance of the championship he led the Bucks to in 2021; they were down zero-two prior to claiming the last four matches and their first title in half a century. Nonetheless, he doubled down on his intent to wrap his arms around the hardware anew. “I don’t want to get stuck in this lifetime to keep on talking about the same story,” he said. “I want to create new memories. I want to win another championship.” Which, in a nutshell, places the onus on the green and cream to keep improving their roster for sustained viability. The task won’t be easy. Vital cogs Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez are locked in for the foreseeable future, but they’re getting ahead in age. Meanwhile, Jrue Holiday, one of the league’s best at the point, is in the midst of what he has stated would be his last contract.
For the Bucks, Antetokounmpo’s mere presence assures them of relevance. That said, it’s one thing to make the playoffs as a middling contender, and quite another to be justified in casting moist eyes on the crown. And, as currently constructed, their lineup is spotty at best. Heck, they do not even have an adequate backup at the one spot. Little wonder, then, that the Greek Freak has put them on notice. It’s not unlike the way other superstars in the National Basketball Association have tried to influence outcomes, but with a twist. In his case, he wants to stay, and is simply putting them on notice this early.
Perhaps “simply” isn’t the operative word, because Antetokounmpo isn’t just any other leading light. He’s a generational talent, which is why officials in other franchises already pursed their lips in anticipation of him changing addresses when he spoke out. What will actually happen, though, is anybody’s guess at this point.
Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994. He is a consultant on strategic planning, operations and human resources management, corporate communications, and business development.
