Newsletter
Fadeaway World
  • Fadeaway World
  • NBA News & Analysis
  • NBA Trade Rumors
  • NBA News & Media
  • Exclusive Interviews
  • NBA 2K
Reading: Giannis Antetokounmpo Accused Of Engineering Damian Lillard’s Bucks Exit
Fadeaway WorldFadeaway World
Search
  • Fadeaway World
  • NBA News & Analysis
  • NBA Trade Rumors
  • NBA News & Media
  • Exclusive Interviews
  • NBA 2K
Follow US
Home > NBA News & Analysis > Milwaukee Bucks News & Analysis > Giannis Antetokounmpo Accused Of Engineering Damian Lillard’s Bucks Exit

Giannis Antetokounmpo Accused Of Engineering Damian Lillard’s Bucks Exit

Giannis Antetokounmpo may have quietly influenced Dame’s exit, as Jim Jackson highlights the power of silence.

Vishwesha Kumar
Jul 8, 2025
5 Min Read
Share

Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images

Giannis Antetokounmpo is facing some uncomfortable speculation this offseason. After the shocking waiving of Damian Lillard by the Milwaukee Bucks, former NBA player and analyst Jim Jackson suggested on Podcast P with Paul George that Giannis may have played a behind-the-scenes role in Dame’s exit. 

The theory? That Giannis didn’t stop the Bucks from cutting ties and that silence, in situations like these, speaks volumes.

“When you’re a Giannis, a LeBron, in that situation, that kind of controls the franchise… A non-answer is as bad as an answer.” 

“So if you’re the coach, and management comes to the star player and says, ‘What do you think about the coach? We’re going to do this, or we may fire him,’ and your star player is like, ‘Well, you know, you got to do what you got to do as an organization,” — he’s not saying, no, don’t fire him, and he’s not saying, yes, I advocate for him.'”

“So in that, a lot of times and I’m going to get to your point about loyalty, a lot of times it’s like a player being in a situation like, ‘Look, I didn’t know, I didn’t say anything, I’m upset.'”

“But did you really advocate to have this person stay? Or did you just kind of let the organization, when they asked you the question, do what they had to do? And you can’t play that in between.” 

“Now, loyalty, there ain’t never been no loyalty in the league. So, stop it. Never has been, never will be.”

Initially, reports painted a picture of Giannis being blindsided by how the Lillard situation unfolded. But later, conflicting narratives surfaced suggesting Giannis was aware of the plans well before they became public. Lillard’s reaction to the exit, which went viral, revealed genuine shock, frustration, and perhaps even a sense of betrayal.

But in the days that followed, the tone around his departure began to shift.

Lillard’s agent released a bold statement suggesting that his client had actually gained something valuable in the end. Lillard himself has remained mostly quiet, but he appeared to co-sign a viral post that claimed he was “elated” to be leaving the Bucks.

This all unfolded as the Bucks executed a surprising offseason pivot. Lillard, who is recovering from a torn Achilles and expected to miss the entire 2025–26 season, was waived and had the remaining $113 million of his contract stretched over five years. 

In doing so, Milwaukee created the cap space necessary to sign Myles Turner to a four-year, $107 million deal, a massive win for a team desperate to stay in contention.

Turner, one of the league’s elite rim protectors and stretch bigs, now joins Giannis in a revamped Bucks frontcourt. But while this acquisition barely improves Milwaukee’s title odds, the circumstances under which it happened have raised eyebrows.

Giannis and Dame were supposed to be the pairing that brought another banner to Milwaukee. They had public praise for one another and seemed to be building strong on-court chemistry, even winning the NBA Cup in 2024. 

Yet Dame’s injuries derailed the season and, ultimately, the partnership. In the unforgiving business of professional basketball, sentiment rarely saves a contract.

It’s entirely possible Giannis didn’t push Dame out but simply chose not to interfere. As Jackson pointed out, in today’s NBA, that can be just as powerful. The Bucks are betting that Turner’s arrival can recapture some of the defensive dominance they once thrived on, especially as they aim to rebound from three straight first-round exits.

Whether this move ends up being the right one remains to be seen. But if Milwaukee fails again, and Giannis decides he wants out next, the front office may find itself wondering whether they misunderstood who was truly calling the shots all along.

Follow on Google News

Thank you for being a valued reader of Fadeaway World. If you liked this article, please consider following us on Google News. We appreciate your support.

TAGGED:Damian LillardGiannis AntetokounmpoMilwaukee Bucks Archive
Share This Article
Facebook Email Copy Link Print
ByVishwesha Kumar
Follow:
Vishwesha Kumar is a staff writer for Fadeaway World from Bengaluru, India. Graduating with a Bachelor of Technology from PES University in 2020, Vishwesha leverages his analytical skills to enhance his sports journalism, particularly in basketball. His experience includes writing over 3000 articles across respected publications such as Essentially Sports and Sportskeeda, which have established him as a prolific figure in the sports writing community.Vishwesha’s love for basketball was ignited by watching LeBron James, inspiring him to delve deeply into the nuances of the game. This personal passion translates into his writing, allowing him to connect with readers through relatable narratives and insightful analyses. He holds a unique and controversial opinion that Russell Westbrook is often underrated rather than overrated. Despite Westbrook's flaws, Vishwesha believes that his triple-double achievements and relentless athleticism are often downplayed, making him one of the most unique and electrifying players in NBA history, even if his style of play can sometimes be polarizing. 
Previous Article NBA Teams Set High Prices For Their Centers When The Lakers Called For Trades
Next Article Potential Phoenix Suns Starting Lineup: Cooked Or Not?
Leave a Comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Newsletter

Stay up to date with our newsletter on the latest news, trends, ranking lists, and evergreen articles

Newsletter
Facebook X-twitter Instagram

You Might Also Like

Brooklyn, New York, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) high fives head coach JJ Redick during the first quarter against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Los Angeles Lakers News & Analysis

JJ Redick Provides Update On Luka Doncic After He Gets Ruled Out For Lakers’ First 2 Preseason Games

October 3, 2025
Devin Booker
Phoenix Suns News & Analysis

Devin Booker Reveals He Has “Unfinished Business” With Phoenix Suns

October 3, 2025
Jayson Tatum
Boston Celtics News & Analysis

New Return Date For Jayson Tatum Could Put Celtics Back In Championship Picture

October 3, 2025
Warriors star Jimmy Butler
Golden State Warriors News & Analysis

Stephen Curry Says Jimmy Butler Gives Warriors “Legitimate Shot” At 2026 Title

October 3, 2025

NBA - Fadeaway World

  • Atlanta Hawks
  • Boston Celtics
  • Brooklyn Nets
  • Charlotte Hornets
  • Chicago Bulls
  • Cleveland Cavaliers
  • Dallas Mavericks
  • Denver Nuggets
  • Detroit Pistons
  • Golden State Warriors
  • Houston Rockets
  • Indiana Pacers
  • Los Angeles Clippers
  • Los Angeles Lakers
  • Memphis Grizzlies
  • Miami Heat
  • Milwaukee Bucks
  • Minnesota Timberwolves
  • New Orleans Pelicans
  • New York Knicks
  • Oklahoma City Thunder
  • Orlando Magic
  • Philadelphia 76ers
  • Phoenix Suns
  • Portland Trail Blazers
  • Sacramento Kings
  • San Antonio Spurs
  • Toronto Raptors
  • Utah Jazz
  • Washington Wizards

Pages

  • NBA Trade Rumors
  • NBA Media
  • Exclusive NBA Interviews
  • NBA 2K News & Updates

© 2025 Fadeaway World @ All Rights Reserved

  • About Fadeaway World
  • Fadeaway World Authors
  • Editorial Team
  • Ethics Policy
  • Corrections Policy
  • Editorial Guidelines
  • Fact-Checking Policy
  • Contact Us
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?