Home Basketball Giannis Antetokounmpo is willing to ‘do whatever it takes’ to win… that could mean leaving the Bucks

Giannis Antetokounmpo is willing to ‘do whatever it takes’ to win… that could mean leaving the Bucks

0
Giannis Antetokounmpo is willing to ‘do whatever it takes’ to win… that could mean leaving the Bucks

It may be the NBA offseason but Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo is making plenty of noise.

Having already created headlines after speaking about his future with the Bucks in an interview with The New York Times, an honest Antetokounmpo has once again placed pressure on the Milwaukee front office to put him and his teammates in a position to succeed.

Speaking on ‘48 Minutes on Bleav’, Antetokounmpo made it clear there is absolutely a scenario where he does re-sign with the Bucks.

He just wants to know everybody else has bought in like he has.

Watch The Biggest Sports from The US with ESPN on Kayo. NBA, NHL, MLB & NFL. Live Coverage Every Week in Season. Join now and start streaming instantly >

Giannis Antetokounmpo wants to win. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)
Giannis Antetokounmpo wants to win. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

“As long as we play and we approach the game every single day the right way and we all sacrifice for a common goal, I can see myself being at the Milwaukee Bucks for the rest of my career,” the Bucks superstar said.

“But the moment I feel like people are not as committed as I am to get that golden thing in the bag, I am not.

“I’m a Milwaukee Buck, but most importantly I’m a winner. I want to win and I have to do whatever it takes to win and if there is a better situation for me to win the Larry O’Brien I have to take that better situation.”

Antetokounmpo is eligible for an extension on September 22, with Milwaukee in a position to offer him a maximum of three-year, $173 million ($A270m) deal from that point.

The two-time NBA MVP, however, said in the interview with the Times last month that he will only sign with the Bucks if he feels they are in a position to contend for a title.

“Next summer it would make more sense for both parties. Even then, I don’t know,” Antetokounmpo said at the time.

“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.”

Giannis Antetokounmpo is keeping his options open. Christian Petersen/Getty Images/AFPSource: AFP

A lot of that uncertainty also comes back to the hiring of new head coach Adrian Griffin, with Antetokounmpo wanting to see what it is like with a fresh voice in the locker room.

“You’ve got to see the dynamics,” he said.

“How the coach is going to be, how we’re going to be together. At the end of the day, I feel like all my teammates know and the organisation knows that I want to win a championship. “As long as we’re on the same page with that and you show me and we go together to win a championship, I’m all for it. The moment I feel like, oh, yeah, we’re trying to rebuild…”

Pausing, Antetokounmpo made it clear there are not and “never” will be hard feelings with Milwaukee.

Germany win first ever World Cup title! | 01:19

“I believe that we’ve had 10 unbelievable years, and there’s no doubt I gave everything for the city of Milwaukee,” he said.

“Everything. Every single night, even when I’m hurt. I am a Milwaukee Buck. I bleed green. I know this. This is my team, and it’s going to forever be my team.

“I don’t forget people that were there for me and allowed me to be great and to showcase who I am to the world and gave me the platform.”

There was more to come though.

“But we have to win another one,” crucially added Antetokounmpo.

The Bucks took a big step towards doing just that during free agency, signing Brook Lopez and Khris Middleton — two key players in Milwaukee’s 2021 championship-winning team.

Source link

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here