The Milwaukee Bucks did not solve the Giannis Antetokounmpo problem. They merely put it off until this summer because it will come up again pending any miraculous playoff run, and that’s extremely unlikely. Shaquille O’Neal revealed what Antetokounmpo should ask for to consider staying with the Bucks.
Shaquille O’Neal Lays Down What Bucks Should Do to Keep Giannis Antetokounmpo
During his appearance on ESPN’s “Unsportsmanlike,” O’Neal suggested Antetokounmpo requested something that’s against NBA rules for the Bucks to keep him.
“Tell Milwaukee to pay me a supermax and give me 10% of the team so I could stay. If not, I’m out,” O’Neal suggested.
When O’Neal was told that players owning a part of the team isn’t legal in the NBA, he responded by explaining that “there’s loopholes” and left it at that.
Shaq said Giannis should ask for the supermax and 10% of the team. 🫨 #FearTheDeer
pic.twitter.com/MNa4ld9uAH— ESPN Milwaukee (@ESPNMilwaukee) February 17, 2026
NBA players cannot ask for a stake in the team they are playing for. For example, Michael Jordan held an ownership stake and served as president of basketball operations for the Washington Wizards. When he decided to return to the NBA to play for them in 2001, he had to relinquish his ownership stake and step down from his role in the Wizards’ front office to make that happen.
O’Neal’s idea illustrates the level of desperation the Bucks face with Antetokounmpo. The Bucks have not managed themselves well since winning the title in 2021. They tried to retool, swapping Jrue Holiday for Damian Lillard and trading Khris Middleton for Kyle Kuzma, but both moves did not pan out.
Now, they are paying Lillard millions not to play for them after waiving and stretching his contract to sign Myles Turner, an above-average but not All-Star center, to a hefty sum. Turner is averaging 12.7 points, the fourth lowest in his career, and 5.7 rebounds per game, the second lowest in his career, this season.
Antetokounmpo has appeared in only 30 games this season due to injuries but has remained a force, averaging 28.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 5.6 assists.
Keeping Antetokounmpo past the NBA trade deadline only delayed the situation. If they want to retain him, their desperation will only intensify, and it may become even worse than what O’Neal suggested.
However, should the Bucks decide to part ways with him, they will receive lucrative offers, especially in the offseason when teams will have more assets to give up to acquire the two-time MVP.
