Giannis vows loyalty to Bucks, says he'll never demand a trade
Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo is adamant he has no intention of ever demanding a trade.
"There will never be a chance, and there will never be a moment that I will come out and say 'I want a trade,'" Antetokounmpo told The Athletic's Sam Amick following Wednesday's 120-113 loss to the Golden State Warriors.
"I am not (going anywhere). I am invested in this team," Antetokounmpo added. "I want to turn this team around. I want to play good basketball. I want to be healthy. I want to help my teammates."
Antetokounmpo also emphasized his long-term commitment to the Bucks, saying, "My plan is to be here for the rest of my career. If they don't want me …" When asked about the leverage he holds, the two-time MVP responded, "I'm not the one in charge. I am an employee."
The 31-year-old has been the subject of rumors since last summer, following reports that Milwaukee and the New York Knicks discussed a potential trade for the nine-time All-Star.
Additional reports in early December claimed Antetokounmpo and the Bucks had met to assess whether his future lies with the club or elsewhere.
Although Antetokounmpo denied speaking with the organization, he acknowledged that his agent may have discussed his future with Milwaukee's brass.
"If my agent is talking to the Bucks about (my future), he is his own person," Antetokounmpo said in December. "At the end of the day, I don't work for my agent. My agent works for me."
Antetokounmpo is in the second year of a three-year, $175-million contract that includes a $62.8-million player option for 2027-28.
Bucks head coach Doc Rivers also dismissed the rumors Wednesday.
"If you're around the team every day, and you saw those reports, you would laugh," Rivers told Amick. "He's given no indication (that he wants out). That doesn't mean that he doesn't change his mind, or whatever."
Rivers added: "But Giannis loves being in Milwaukee. He loves playing for this team. If something happens someday, where he changes his mind, I’d actually be surprised. But that can happen."
The veteran coach admitted that the ongoing speculation has taken a toll, noting that, "Giannis, two or three times now, has said, 'Guys, I'm here. I love it.'"
The 16-21 Bucks sit 11th in the Eastern Conference, one game back of the Chicago Bulls for the final play-in spot. They've won four of six games ahead of Friday's much-anticipated clash with the Los Angeles Lakers.
"I wanna win games. The last six games we've played, we're 4-2. We have a lot of games in front of us," Antetokounmpo said. "I'm locked the f--k in. I'm locked in."