Trade rumors involving Giannis Antetokounmpo continue to heat up as the Milwaukee Bucks look to figure out their solutions amid an inconsistent start to the 2025-26 NBA season.
With Antetokounmpo desiring a winning situation after quick playoff exits in past campaigns, some of his teammates gave their thoughts on current events.
What Bucks Players Said About Giannis Trade Rumors
Antetokounmpo has shined as one of the best players in the league, continuing to demonstrate himself as a force inside the paint.
He is going through the 13th year of his career, all with the Bucks. The star forward had the honor of winning two MVP awards and the NBA championship, the franchise’s first since 1971.
However, past seasons have been tough for Antetokounmpo and the squad. They lost in the East Semis in 2022 and suffered three consecutive first-round exits since. And this season has seen Milwaukee suffer a significant losing streak, taking a big fall in the standings.
Antetokounmpo has reportedly requested a trade before the season started. That request has resurfaced given the team’s struggles, which garnered responses from his teammates Kevin Porter Jr. and AJ Green.
“I’ll just say this: There’s a lot of outside noise, that’s just what comes with it,” Porter said, via The Athletic. “And Giannis does a great job of assuring (us) that he’s wanting to be here with this group specifically.”
“We know GA. We know he’s here for us. He loves the city. He loves the team. We love him,” Green said. “We’re gonna play for him. He’s gonna play for us. So, people are going to say whatever, outside noise, but we know what it is inside this locker room and the relationship we got and the team we got, so we’re just gonna continue to run with that and trust it.”
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Antetokounmpo has continued to perform at a high level despite the rumors. In the 17 games he played in, he is averaging 28.9 points, 10.1 rebounds and 6.1 assists per game. He is shooting 63.9% from the field, including 43.5% from beyond the arc, and 63.5% from the free-throw line.
What’s Next for Antetokounmpo and Bucks?
It will be intriguing to see how the Bucks approach their current situation with Antetokounmpo. However, the team will suffer a big regression in production on the court as he will be absent due to calf strain injury.
Milwaukee has a 10-13 record on the season, holding the 10th spot in the Eastern Conference standings. They are even with the Chicago Bulls while trailing the Philadelphia 76ers by 2.5 games and Atlanta Hawks by three games.
The Bucks will continue preparations for their next matchup, being at home. They host the 76ers on Dec. 5 at 8 p.m. ET.
