The Milwaukee Bucks were on top of the basketball world in 2021, but they are now at risk of crashing and burning. Giannis Antetokounmpo’s future with the Bucks remains uncertain as the team struggles on the court, and NBA insider Shams Charania made some concerning statements on The Pat McAfee Show.
“The frustration that Giannis Antetokounmpo has is at a all-time high,” Charania said. “He’s frustrated with the losing. He’s frustrated with the situation, and I will say this: I’ve spoken to about a dozen sources on-and-off for weeks now, and the tension that’s in the air within that organization, in that locker room, it’s at an all-time high.
“And there’s this somewhat of a splintering environment that we’re seeing going on there,” Charania stated. “Because when a player of Giannis’ caliber maybe has a wandering eye, or maybe doesn’t know what his future holds there, and is having these intense conversations with the organization about what that looks like, there’s going to be such high levels and degrees of uncertainty within that organization.
“It’s been going on all year, but I just think back to the summer,” Charania continued. “Late July, Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks general manager Jon Horst are meeting face-to-face. Jon Horst and the Bucks and Doc Rivers and ownership, they’re selling Giannis Antetokounmpo on competing for a championship. Like, ‘We have a title-contending roster.’ Giannis makes it very clear that he has concerns.
“He has issues with the roster, that he maybe doesn’t believe that this is a truly contending team,” Charania added. “That leads to conversations with the Knicks. That’s a preferred destination that he had in the offseason. Those two teams spoke, there were offers made. Obviously, there was no deal that happened. The Bucks ended up signing his brother Thanasis, he ends committing to the season, and he ends up starting the year there.”
Antetokounmpo would have been right in believing that the Bucks, who are now 18-25 on the season, weren’t good enough to compete for a title. Apart from him, there isn’t a single All-Star caliber player on that roster. The greatest indicator of just how bad the supporting cast is has come when the two-time MVP has missed time due to injury.
The Bucks are 3-11 without Antetokounmpo this season and 15-14 with him. He bluntly called out his Bucks teammates after their latest defeat at the hands of the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday, and the situation looks to be getting worse and worse.
Antetokounmpo also did the double thumbs down gesture and booed Bucks fans as they were booing the team during a loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. It sure appears that a parting of ways is what is best for everyone, but will either party take the first step before the Feb. 5 trade deadline?
“Everything about Giannis’ brand has been loyalty,” Charania said. “He spent 13 years in Milwaukee. It’s clear. He loves the city. He loves the organization. But what I’ve been hearing over and over for months now is that the writing is on the wall for Giannis and the Bucks. It’s just, how do they get there? When do they get there? And really, when is either side ready to step up to the plate and have that level of understanding?
“Or will it continue to live in this nebulous state where, will they or won’t they, will he, or won’t he?” Charania continued. “And that has a direct impact on the team and how the performance is, and just the level of the air.”
Teams around the NBA might like to get some clarity as well. Antetokounmpo is reportedly stalling the trade market as teams wait to see if he asks out.
You don’t want to make moves and then miss out on the chance to land Antetokounmpo, who is averaging 28.2 points, 9.9 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.8 blocks per game in 2025-26. All eyes will be on the nine-time All-Star and the Bucks as we inch closer to the deadline.
