Bill Simmons isn’t known for sugarcoating his takes, and this week, he may have perfectly decoded what’s really going on inside Giannis Antetokounmpo’s mind.
On The Bill Simmons Podcast, the veteran NBA analyst broke down Giannis’ recent comments about temptation and trade rumors and his conclusion wasn’t comforting for Bucks fans.
“He’s only got eight playoff series wins. Let me put that in perspective, LeBron has 41 playoff series wins. Tim Duncan has 35. Kobe had 33. Shaq had 32. Durant has 22. Kawhi’s at 19. Jason Tatum is 15–7 in the playoffs. Jokic has 10. Giannis? He’s 8–8.”
“And I think he’s just looking at this like, I’m tired of this. I just want to be in the playoffs. I just want to keep playing past April 30th. I think it’s really starting to get to him.”
“He looks at Milwaukee and the landscape and he’s like I’ll be a year older a year from now, and I’ve already done this the last three years. So I don’t even think it’s about chasing a ring for him anymore as much as it’s about being in relevant basketball games in April, May, and June.”
Simmons believes the frustration is no longer about chasing championships or legacy, it’s about relevance. Giannis doesn’t want to spend another season carrying a fading roster only to bow out in the first or second round.
That statement hit hard because it makes sense. Milwaukee hasn’t made a deep playoff run since their 2021 championship, and their last two postseasons have ended in disappointment, first with the shocking first-round loss to Miami, then with another early exit marred by injuries and inconsistency.
This comes amid another wave of trade chatter. Reports from Shams Charania earlier this week revealed that the Bucks and New York Knicks engaged in exploratory trade talks for Giannis over the summer. While the discussions went nowhere, the story confirmed what many have suspected: Giannis’ future in Milwaukee is no longer guaranteed.
Giannis himself admitted that the outside noise has been hard to ignore. Speaking to reporters last week, he used a metaphor to describe the allure of other opportunities.
He followed that up by saying he’s still “committed” to Milwaukee for now. But that qualifier has everyone reading between the lines.
The Bucks’ roster hasn’t helped. With Damian Lillard gone, Myles Turner now replacing Brook Lopez, and limited depth behind Giannis, the team looks more like a play-in hopeful than a title threat. Despite Giannis’ incredible 2024–25 season, averaging 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 6.5 assists on 60% shooting, Milwaukee still couldn’t get out of the first round.
And that’s the heart of Simmons’ point. Greatness can only go so far when you’re carrying a flawed roster alone.
Giannis turns 31 next season. He’s in his prime, still dominant, still hungry. But if the Bucks can’t give him a team that competes deep into May, the writing’s on the wall.
As Simmons put it bluntly:
For Milwaukee, the message couldn’t be clearer: build a contender, or prepare for life without the Greek Freak.
