The NBA world was rocked by the Luka Doncic trade, and Giannis Antetokounmpo had plenty to say about it. After the Milwaukee Bucks’ latest game, the Greek Freak shared his thoughts on Doncic’s shocking move to the Los Angeles Lakers, expressing both surprise and excitement over what it could mean for European players in the NBA.
“I thought it was fake news. It’s insane. Obviously, I’ve played against Luka a lot of times and AD and all the people that were included in the trade. This is the world we’re living in. It’s a business, you have to understand nobody’s safe, nobody’s safe.”
“If a five-time All-NBA first-team, a 25-year-old, a guy that just made it to the Finals seven months ago, a guy that led the league in scoring, a guy that finished second or third in MVP voting, a guy that scored 70-something points one time, a guy that had a 60-point triple-double, a guy that knows how to play the game of basketball.”
“I can keep going and going, an All-Star, not just an All-Star, an All-Star starter, a guy that averaged 34/9/10, but I’m not here to talk about Luka and how good he is, I think everybody in the world knows he’s one of the best players in the league.”
“At the end of the day, I’ve said this in the past, you get evaluated every single day. You don’t take nothing for granted. Being an All-Star, you don’t take it for granted, Being able to go out there and put the jersey on and represent your team, you don’t take that for granted.”
“Being out there and representing your family, you don’t take that for granted. Every second that you play in an NBA game, I love it, I try to play with joy. And at the same time, I understand the business of basketball, that sometimes teams need to make the best moves that are good for their organization and for their position and for their own pursuit of greatness and championships.”
“But at the same time, it goes both ways. You cannot have a double standard here. When the teams make the best moves for them and they believe they can get another player to win now.”
“When a player believes that he can go to a different team and he believes he can have a chance to win a championship, we cannot crucify the person and say that he’s not loyal and he didn’t do the right thing and he let everybody down.”
“Because history has shown you, you have to do what is best for you and your family. You have to do what’s best/most important to win.”
Like most of the basketball world, Giannis admitted that when he first heard the news, he thought it was fake. The idea that a five-time All-NBA First Team selection, a former scoring champion, and one of the best players in the league could be traded at just 25 years old was unbelievable to him.
Giannis went on to list Doncic’s achievements, from his MVP-caliber seasons to his legendary performances, including a 60-point triple-double. He made it clear that Doncic is one of the most talented players in the NBA, and the fact that he was traded proves just how unpredictable the league can be.
Antetokounmpo also used the moment to highlight the double standard in how trades are perceived. When teams trade star players for their own benefit, it is seen as a smart business decision.
But, when players leave teams in free agency or request trades, they are often criticized for lacking loyalty. Giannis has always been a strong advocate for players making the best decisions for themselves and their families, and Doncic’s trade only further reinforced that belief.
After his serious reflection on the trade, Giannis lightened the mood with a bold statement—he wants to see more European players in big markets.
“Okay, let’s say something funny because I took it and spoke very very serious…Now that a European will be, I believe, the face of the Lakers, this is something new for Europe. It’s never happened before. We had Pau Gasol. Obviously, he was a great player.”
“And how do you say – Vujacic? Sasha Vujacic? – great guy, one of my close friends, but I mess up his name all the time. Now, I just love it. You know what I want? I want Luka to the Lakers, I want Jokic to the Knicks.”
“I want all the Europeans to go to all the big markets to see something incredible. This is what I want. This is my dream. But again, I wish both teams the best of luck, wish all the players best of luck with their journey moving forward.”
This was both a joke and a statement of ambition. Giannis recognizes that European players have dominated the NBA in recent years, with himself, Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic, and Joel Embiid all winning MVPs or contending for the award. Seeing European stars take over big-market franchises like the Lakers and Knicks would be a huge moment for international basketball.
Giannis Antetokounmpo’s reaction to Luka Doncic’s trade to the Lakers was a mix of shock, reflection, and excitement. While he couldn’t believe the Mavericks moved on from their young superstar, he also saw the opportunity this trade presented for European players to take center stage in the league’s biggest markets.
Whether or not Jokic to the Knicks ever happens remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the landscape of the NBA has changed dramatically, and European players continue to shape its future.
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