March 27, 2026, 8:06 a.m. ET<\/p>\n
Kirk Goldsberry\u00a0on Giannis Antetokounmpo: \u2018I actually\u00a0heard\u00a0there\u2019s a mystery team. I called around as part of this exercise to see who were potentially desperate places for Giannis to land. And somebody who knows stuff\u00a0told\u00a0me that Orlando has actually been very active in seeking out Giannis Antetokounmpo\u2019s services.<\/a> Now, desperation sort of sets in in the NBA when? After the first round of the playoffs. So there\u2019s 16 teams, they think they\u2019re in it, two weeks later there\u2019s eight teams that are out. That\u2019s where I think the Houstons, the Orlandos are gonna merge. The Knicks, Cleveland, that\u2019s the group I\u2019m looking at.\u2019<\/p>\n The Ringer<\/a><\/p>\n More on Giannis Antetokounmpo: Recent HoopsHype Rumors<\/a><\/p>\n The team\u2019s current stance \u2014 that he won\u2019t be medically cleared to play despite the strong indications that he believes he\u2019s good to go \u2014 is the clearest sign yet that these two parties are headed for a divorce in the summer.<\/a> And whether the Bucks are trying to preserve his health for an eventual trade, improve their draft position, or both, the fact that this approach is directly at odds with Antetokounmpo\u2019s desires speaks volumes about the state of affairs in this relationship. There\u2019s always a never-say-never component to star player decisions, but the notion of Giannis Antetokounmpo still being in a Bucks jersey when he\u2019s eligible to sign a four-year, $270 million extension on Oct. 1 seems even more unlikely by the day. \u2014 3\/26\/2026 New York Times<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s not (healthy),\u201d Rivers said when asked about the NBPA\u2019s assertion that Antetokounmpo is healthy and not being allowed to play so the Bucks can improve their NBA Draft lottery positioning by tanking. \u201cHe\u2019s progressing. He\u2019s just not healthy.\u201d<\/a> \u2014 3\/25\/2026 New York Times<\/a><\/p>\n “I think most or every MVP in the past years has been deserved, has been rightfully picked in my opinion,” he said. “But I think it doesn’t happen often that a player … I mean, how many players have won defensive player of the year and MVP, right? Most recently Giannis (Antetokounmpo, in 2019-20) right? It doesn’t happen that often, even though it should, right? I mean, defense is 50 percent of the game. Maybe there should be an offensive player of the year award.”<\/a> \u2014 3\/24\/2026 San Antonio Express-News<\/a><\/p>\n Tom Haberstroh: UPDATE: NBA star play percentage has hovered around 60% for most of the season. Way down this season<\/a>. Anthony Edwards, Cade Cunningham, Stephen Curry and Giannis Antetokounmpo remain out as season winds down. \u2014 3\/24\/2026 x.com<\/a><\/p>\n Chris Mannix: I believe the Rockets are going to try to make a run at Giannis Antetokounmpo in the offseason, so that looms. But I don’t believe the results of this year will result in them blowing it up<\/a>. \u2014 3\/24\/2026 YouTube<\/a><\/p>\n Shams Charania: Statement from the National Basketball Players Association on the Milwaukee Bucks’ desires to shut down Giannis Antetokounmpo,<\/a> who wants to play: \u2014 3\/24\/2026 Twitter @ShamsCharania<\/a><\/p>\n Eric Nehm: Bucks Injury Report vs. Portland<\/a> Out: Alex Antetokounmpo (Two-Way) Giannis Antetokounmpo (L Knee Hyperextension; Bone Bruise) Gary Harris (L Groin Contusion) Kevin Porter Jr. (R Knee Synovitis) Questionable: Kyle Kuzma (R Achilles Soreness) Bobby Portis (R Wrist Sprain) \u2014 3\/24\/2026 x.com<\/a><\/p>\n Eric Nehm: Bucks injury report for Monday vs. Clippers<\/a>. Out: Alex Antetokounmpo (Two-Way) Giannis Antetokounmpo (left knee hyperextension; bone bruise) Kevin Porter Jr. (right knee synovitis) Questionable: Kyle Kuzma (right Achilles soreness) Probable: Gary Harris (Left Groin Contusion) \u2014 3\/22\/2026 x.com<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cSo that\u2019s another good one in terms of: when do you know? You could go viral every day if you wanted. You can report something every day if you want, but if it has long-term ramifications for your credibility, your responsibility, how you treat people, and your relationships, then obviously you have to make a decision. If something you report is going to be unfair or irresponsible, or you\u2019re not giving it the proper time to really marinate and play out, then you\u2019re putting yourself in a tough spot.\u201d Shams Charania: \u201cSo yeah, the Giannis one, specifically, is certainly one where I think a million times I could have probably reported exactly what I reported the week before the deadline, which was that he was prepared and ready to move on and the team was listening to offers. They literally were listening to the New York Knicks making offers in October<\/a>. \u201cSo they had listened to offers, but the slight difference was that it had reached such a fever pitch at that point, and they were talking to and listening to Minnesota, Golden State, and Miami. And I\u2019m going on TV. I\u2019m having to report on this. He\u2019s one of the biggest names in the NBA, one of the best players in the NBA. \u201cIt\u2019s irresponsible for me not to report, not to do my job. What I think about more than anything is that I\u2019m a servant for the audience. The audience is going to be let down if I\u2019m not reporting what\u2019s actually going on behind the scenes\u2014not what someone might be telling you, or something you want to hear, or something that might be easier on the ears. I\u2019m always going to try to keep it real when I can.\u201d \u2014 3\/21\/2026 YouTube<\/a><\/p>\n Those who have done business with the Bucks, including teams that inquired about Antetokounmpo before the trade deadline, told ESPN that Haslam was more involved in decisions than before. One team owner even had direct negotiations with Haslam rather than Edens about a potential deal for Antetokounmpo, multiple sources with knowledge of the discussions told ESPN. “We mostly dealt with [GM Jon] Horst,” an executive with one of the teams that heavily engaged with the Bucks told ESPN. “But our impression was that Jimmy was really the one who would decide this.”<\/a> \u2014 3\/21\/2026 ESPN<\/a><\/p>\n What NBA media is saying<\/p>\n Dan Devine (@yourmandevine.bsky.social<\/a>): Also did some blogging today at Y! Sports: * Wrote about Doc Rivers’ response to the NBPA’s statement on The Giannis Situation, and where it all stands: yhoo.it\/4uRs4YW * Wrote about Adam Silver saying the NBA will fix tanking, which, OK: yhoo.it\/4c89uED \u2014 26\/3\/2026, 21:02:20 View post<\/a><\/p>\n Sam Amick (@samamick.bsky.social<\/a>): Wemby vs. SGA and the great MVP debate, my read on Giannis vs. the Bucks and the 65-game rule discussion rages on, at @theathletic.com<\/a>www.nytimes.com\/athletic\/714…<\/a> \u2014 26\/3\/2026, 16:34:03 View post<\/a><\/p>\n Jim Owczarski (@jimowczarski.bsky.social<\/a>): ICYMI: Doc Rivers didn’t seem to care the league is now going to look into the #Bucks handling of Giannis Antetokounmpo’s playing status, and waived off a question about the NBPA’s implication of tanking \ud83d\udecb\ufe0f \u2014 26\/3\/2026, 4:30:56 View post<\/a><\/p>\n Jim Owczarski (@jimowczarski.bsky.social<\/a>): #Bucks head coach Doc Rivers, #NBA commissioner Adam Silver address Giannis Antetokounmpo\u2019s health and tanking \u2b07\ufe0f www.jsonline.com\/story\/sports…<\/a> \u2014 26\/3\/2026, 3:03:06 View post<\/a><\/p>\n Jim Owczarski (@jimowczarski.bsky.social<\/a>): Parts of the Milwaukee #Bucks are in Portland to take on the #Blazers at the Moda Center tonight: \u26d1\ufe0f A full, lengthy injury report \ud83d\udcfd\ufe0f Doc Rivers on Giannis Antetokounmpo’s injury status \u2615 Game time \ud83d\udcfa Broadcast info \ud83d\udcb0 Odds \ud83d\udccc Our #NBASky running game \ud83e\uddf5 www.jsonline.com\/story\/sports…<\/a> \u2014 26\/3\/2026, 2:16:20 View post<\/a><\/p>\n Jim Owczarski (@jimowczarski.bsky.social<\/a>): #Bucks head coach Doc Rivers on Giannis Antetokounmpo: “He’s progressing but he’s just not healthy. Our whole focus right now is just getting him healthy.” \u2014 26\/3\/2026, 1:42:13 View post<\/a><\/p>\n Dan Devine (@yourmandevine.bsky.social<\/a>): \ud83c\udd95 BIG NUMBER: +16.5 \ud83d\udc7d\u26a1\ufe0f\ud83c\udfc6 @tomhaberstroh.bsky.social and I dig into the MVP cases for Victor Wembanyama and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. (Spoiler alert: Both pretty good cases!) Also: 65-game rule! Giannis wants to play! Expansion! And more! \ud83c\udf4e: tiny.cc\/uxu0101 \u2733\ufe0f: tiny.cc\/txu0101 \ud83d\udcfa: youtu.be\/R2B6ALZbnkQ \u2014 25\/3\/2026, 21:53:58 View post<\/a><\/p>\n Jim Owczarski (@jimowczarski.bsky.social<\/a>): Players association questions why Bucks are sitting Giannis Antetokounmpo www.jsonline.com\/story\/sports…<\/a> \u2014 25\/3\/2026, 20:39:10 View post<\/a><\/p>\n J.E. Skeets (@jeskeets.bsky.social<\/a>): Giannis vs. Bucks: Who’s right? \u27a1\ufe0f youtu.be\/a5JoyJlIaBI \u2014 25\/3\/2026, 18:47:06 View post<\/a><\/p>\n J.E. Skeets (@jeskeets.bsky.social<\/a>): Jokic’s spot on the MVP ladder Are Mitchell and Brunson underrated? NBPA weighs in on Bucks-Giannis standoff and 65-game rule \ud835\ude3e\ud835\ude43\ud835\ude50\ud835\ude49\ud835\ude46\ud835\ude54 \ud835\ude3e\ud835\ude47\ud835\ude3c\ud835\ude4e\ud835\ude4e\ud835\ude44\ud835\ude3e YouTube \ud83d\udcfa: bit.ly\/4d9CxIW Apple \ud83c\udf4e: apple.co\/3CUsJOD<\/a> Spotify \u2733\ufe0f: bit.ly\/44kso6Y \u2014 25\/3\/2026, 17:14:08 View post<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"March 27, 2026, 8:06 a.m. ET Kirk Goldsberry\u00a0on Giannis Antetokounmpo: \u2018I actually\u00a0heard\u00a0there\u2019s a mystery team. I called around…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":208302,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[31,139,141,140,17880,17881,8913,339,60106,342,9133,38918,49,300,34],"class_list":["post-208301","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-orlando","tag-accessfree","tag-orlando","tag-orlando-headlines","tag-orlando-news","tag-sstssportsnba","tag-sstsnnba","tag-tagbasketball","tag-tagcontains-commerce-or-affiliate-content","tag-taggiannis-antetokounmpo","tag-tagnational-sports","tag-tagnba","tag-tagnew-york-times-company","tag-tagoverall-neutral","tag-tagsports-news","tag-typestory"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/208301","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=208301"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/208301\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/208302"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=208301"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=208301"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=208301"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}