In late August, Giannis Antetokounmpo sent shock waves across the National Basketball Association when he disclosed his plans to tie his future to a franchise genuinely angling for a title. “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,” he told The New York Times’ Tania Ganguli in response to the possibility of extending his contract with the Bucks. “And if I don’t feel that, I’m not signing.”
To argue that Antetokounmpo put the Bucks — and the rest of the league — on notice would be an understatement. Three weeks later, he doubled down on what he termed as a need for him to “reach my full potential … I’m a winner. I want to win. And 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 [Trophy], I have to take that better situation,” he said on the “48 Minutes” podcast. Which, needless to say, had the front office of the green and cream on scramble mode, never mind that he still had another year on his current deal. Meanwhile, hopefuls were already making plans to snag him just in case he did move to chuck the only colors he has headlined since being chosen 15th overall in the 2013 draft.
Today, the Bucks can heave a sigh of relief. Because they went all in on getting Antetokounmpo the help he desired, he has rewarded them by affixing his Hancock on a contract extension that guarantees he will be staying in Milwaukee at least until 2027, and possibly for another year at his option. Not coincidentally, the duration of his deal coincides with that of new teammate Damian Lillard, whom they acquired at not inconsiderable cost. Still, the addition of the seven-time All-Star, even at the expense of erstwhile cog Jrue Holiday, was enough to appease the two-time Most Valuable Player.
Granted, nothing is etched in stone when it comes to the NBA; the landscape is so littered with bona fide contenders that all loading up on talent does is improve chances to claim the hardware. Clearly, though, the speed with which the Bucks showed their commitment to meet Antetokounmpo’s ultimate objective swayed him to stick around for the long haul. He knows that his position is much better now than it was before they got Lillard on board. And while such notables as the Celtics, Sixers, and even Heat are hurdles in the East, they also believe his drive is all they need to succeed.
So, yes, Antetokounmpo’s best is still to come. And, yes, the Bucks will most certainly benefit from his loyalty to the cause. After having posted a career-high in scoring average last season, he is sure to find the going easier with a true-blue playmaker and point producer by his side. It’s fair to consider that they will no longer go one and done in the playoffs, and that they will, in fact, make a deep run. That was what he asked for. Now they get to reap the rewards.
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.
