The Giannis Antetokounmpo trade saga has gone on for far too long. For years, rumors have circulated about the Greek Freak potentially finding a new home after spending his entire NBA career with the Milwaukee Bucks.
Antetokounmpo publicly called out the Bucks on multiple occasions this year, after a challenging season for him and Milwaukee marked by underperformance, locker-room drama, coaching issues, and a league investigation into whether he was healthy enough to play.
Now, looking back on the last year, Antetokounmpo admits he has a major regret about how he handled the trade rumors.
Giannis Antetokounmpo Admits Major Regret As Trade Rumors Swirled
During a recent appearance on Goran Dragić’s podcast, the Greek star spoke about the trade rumors that have been circulating for months.
“This was the first time that it was, like, real. It was a lot, you know what I’m saying? And I’m not saying that it was real that I wanted a trade. Like it was, bro, everywhere I went, like in the street, people would tell me, ‘Don’t leave! Don’t this, don’t do that! Please stay.’ Like, you know, it was real.
“Like, back in the day when I was younger, when I was 25, 24, they were always saying this stuff. But then maybe like a week later, it will turn off. They will talk about the different story. This year, every day, social media, turn the TV on, ‘First Take,’ ESPN, blah blah blah… Giannis, Giannis, Giannis, Giannis. Giannis. Giannis.”
The trade rumors reached a new level of intensity this time around, and Antetokounmpo wishes he would’ve shut them down sooner.
“I came here and I was locked in. But this was the first time in my NBA career that it was everywhere. I think if I could change something, maybe I’d come out and shut it down. Because people wasn’t listening to me. People was like, ‘Giannis, come out and ask for a trade! Giannis, do this!’
“I would have conversations with my coach, my GM, and I kept saying like, ‘Guys, I’m here. I’m not going nowhere.’ [But people would say], ‘Oh yeah, whatever, whatever, Giannis is going to the Knicks!’ Okay. Two weeks later, [I’d say], ‘I’m here, guys. I’m locked in. I got hurt, but I’m coming back to play here.’ [But people would still say], ‘Oh, Giannis is going to Miami.’ They wasn’t listening to what I was saying, right?
“So, if I could turn the time back, I would maybe come out a little bit earlier and say like, ‘Hey, guys. Hey, this ends today. Look at me in my eyes. I’m staying with Milwaukee until further notice. This ends today. Stop, making stories after stories after stories.'”
Antetokounmpo then provided his current stance on the trade rumors and his future in Milwaukee.
“You know how I am. We are loyal. We are loyal people,” he said. “When people believe in us and people like help us and make us stand on our feet, it’s very hard for you to turn your back. But at the same time, you’re competitive. You want to win. Everybody wants to win. So, you got to make the best decision for yourself. That’s pretty much it.”
This offseason, all eyes will be on Antetokounmpo to see if he remains in Milwaukee or gets a fresh start elsewhere.
