{"id":482093,"date":"2026-02-15T18:42:10","date_gmt":"2026-02-15T18:42:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/482093\/"},"modified":"2026-02-15T18:42:10","modified_gmt":"2026-02-15T18:42:10","slug":"giannis-antetokounmpo-addresses-bucks-commitment-title-drive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/482093\/","title":{"rendered":"Giannis Antetokounmpo addresses Bucks commitment, title drive"},"content":{"rendered":"

Giannis Antetokounmpo<\/a> reiterated his commitment to the Milwaukee Bucks<\/a> while also acknowledging his desire to be a winner and pursue a second title to go with the one he won in 2021.<\/p>\n

“As of today, I’m committed to the Milwaukee Bucks,” Antetokounmpo told ESPN’s Malika Andrews in an interview for NBA All-Star Weekend. “I’m committed to the people that I work with, my teammates, the coaching staff, Coach Doc [Rivers] and [GM] Jon [Horst] in the front office.<\/p>\n

“What I’ve said from the beginning of this year is that, out of my mouth and the way I’ve carried myself, you will never hear me say I don’t want to be a Milwaukee Buck.”<\/p>\n

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Sources had told ESPN’s Shams Charania ahead of the Feb. 5 NBA trade deadline that Antetokounmpo has been ready for a new home for months, whether it was an in-season deal or in the offseason, and that the Bucks had listened to offers for the two-time MVP.<\/p>\n

No deal came to fruition — despite interest from teams that included the Golden State Warriors<\/a>, Miami Heat<\/a> and Minnesota Timberwolves<\/a> — and both sides are expected to reexamine a potential deal in the offseason, sources said.<\/p>\n

Amid the uncertainty about his future, Antetokounmpo has publicly indicated his commitment to the Bucks. Shortly after the deadline passed, Antetokounmpo wrote “Legends don’t chase. They attract<\/a>” in an Instagram post alongside an expletive-laden clip from the film “The Wolf of Wall Street” where Leonardo DiCaprio’s character says he’s not leaving his job.<\/p>\n

He also told The Athletic in January that “There will never be a moment<\/a> that I will come out and say, ‘I want a trade.'”<\/p>\n

But with Andrews, Antetokounmpo acknowledged childhood thoughts about what it would be like to play for another team.<\/p>\n

“Growing up, you dream, ‘Oh, what if I played for the Knicks<\/a>, Madison Square Garden? What if I get drafted by the Lakers<\/a> and I’m teammates with Kobe? What if I go play for the Cavs<\/a> and LeBron<\/a> passes me the ball?'” Antetokounmpo said, adding that he has pondered how he would fit in among recent teams to win NBA championships such as the Oklahoma City Thunder<\/a> and Boston Celtics<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Bucks will come out of the All-Star break at 23-30 and in 12th place in the Eastern Conference. Antetokounmpo has not played since Jan. 23 due to a strained right calf, though Rivers said last week that the Bucks have no intention to shut down their star player.<\/p>\n

Antetokounmpo was selected as an All-Star but is not taking part in Sunday’s first U.S. vs. World format.<\/p>\n

Asked by Andrews to reflect on the Bucks’ 2020-21 NBA championship, Antetokounmpo likened it to tasting a delicious steak and making it clear that he wants another bite at a title.<\/p>\n

“You want that steak again,” he said.<\/p>\n

At the same time, Antetokounmpo doesn’t want anyone to think he quit on the Bucks, telling Andrews, “This is my team, and I love it.”<\/p>\n