The Bucks were pulled into controversy after a report from Chris Haynes claimed Giannis Antetokounmpo met with teammates to address rumors about his future. The story spread quickly, and players were pressed for clarity ahead of tonight’s game.
“I don’t really know honestly. I don’t really remember a time he met with us. Yeah, he didn’t sit us down like the apprentice. It didn’t go down like that,” Kyle Kuzma said when asked about the report.
The pushback comes as Giannis continues to sit at the center of league-wide trade speculation, with outside noise growing louder despite Milwaukee insisting nothing unusual has happened inside the locker room.
“This is the last thing I’m gonna say about anything regarding false information,” Kevin Porter Jr. said. “At the end of the day, everyone needs to wait until Giannis says something, because all this is just ‘he says she says.’ I guarantee you when we start winning and go 8-0, 9-0, you’re gonna see nothing about the Bucks. You won’t see ‘Oh, the Bucks are 8-0, 9-0, they’re flourishing and Giannis is…’ We’re not going to see any of that positive news. At least for me, this is the last time I’m going to answer anything false.
That makes two Bucks teammates now who have publicly denied the ongoing drama involving Giannis. That does not include head coach Doc Rivers, who issued his own statement dismissing the claim that Giannis wants out.
Clearly, in the eyes of his teammates and coaches, Giannis’ situation has been completely overblown, and misinformation is everywhere. For all the trade buzz, he has yet to make an official trade demand, but he is also not calling emergency meetings in the locker room.
As it stands, he remains loyal to the Bucks, and he is under contract through 2028 ($62.7 million player option). Still, regardless of what Giannis is willing to show publicly, the Bucks are on the clock.
Since winning the championship in 2021, they have won only a single playoff series. From Jrue Holiday to Damian Lillard to Myles Turner, the Bucks have cycled through various stars over the years, but none of them have been enough for a return to the NBA Finals.
If the Bucks want to stave off the rumors and guarantee Giannis’ loyalty, it is going to take major moves across the board. Unfortunately, with money still owed to Damian Lillard, the franchise is somewhat limited in what it can do.
For now, they have to work with what they have to convince Giannis that he is better off staying put. But with the two-time MVP currently sidelined for weeks, it is not going to be easy to dig themselves out of this hole.
As February’s deadline approaches, the Giannis situation will only intensify as teams put pressure on the Bucks to make a deal. At 10-15 with no clear solution in sight, these next few weeks will be very important for Milwaukee to determine what kind of season this will be.
How Milwaukee handles this stretch will reveal far more than any rumor or report. With pressure mounting and the standings slipping, the Bucks must decide whether to reinforce the roster or brace for a larger shift ahead. Whatever direction they choose, the next month will shape the future of the franchise and determine whether Giannis’ trust can truly be secured.
