Giannis says free-agency talk 'disrespectful' to teammates
Giannis Antetokounmpo won't be a free agent until 2021, but his long-term future has already become a hot topic around the NBA.
The Milwaukee Bucks superstar is expected to headline a stacked list of available players two summers from now, but Antetokounmpo doesn't think it's right to speculate so far in advance.
"I feel like if you have a great team, and our goal is to win a championship and be the last team standing and get better each day, I think it's disrespectful towards my teammates talking about my free agency and what I'm gonna do," Antetokounmpo told reporters Monday at Bucks media day. "So, when the time is right, we're all gonna talk about it. I don't think the time is right."
Milwaukee can offer Antetokounmpo a five-year, $253.75-million super-max extension following the 2019-20 season, which would be the largest in NBA history, according to ESPN's Bobby Marks. Opposing teams can only offer the reigning MVP up to $161.3 million over four years.
The league recently fined the Bucks $50,000 after general manager Jon Horst publicly stated the club will offer Antetokounmpo the super-max extension once he becomes eligible next offseason.
Antetokounmpo has spent his entire career with Milwaukee after the club drafted him 15th overall in 2013.
The 24-year-old posted career highs in points (27.7), rebounds (12.5), and assists (5.9), leading the Bucks to their first Eastern Conference final since 2001.