The Milwaukee Bucks Are Out, Giannis Antetokounmpo Might Be Next

It seems like only yesterday that we all dreaded having to spell the name Giannis Antetokounmpo.

But since he was even better than advertised—and the hype was huge for a teenager from Greece—it didn’t take long at all to memorize the spelling.

Now what’s hard to grasp is that Antetokounmpo just completed his 12th season with the Milwaukee Bucks after Tuesday’s 119-118 postseason overtime loss to the Indiana Pacers.

The Bucks blew a seven-point lead in the final 40 seconds of overtime, and now there are rumblings that it might have been Antetokounmpo’s final game with the franchise.

He didn’t want to address the subject after the devastating defeat. On one hand, that makes sense. It’s an emotional time, and he can always speak in a week or two.

But on the other hand, it’s really easy to say, “This is where I want to be,” if you are still fully intent on staying with the only franchise you’ve ever known.

Times have changed in Milwaukee. Antetokounmpo looked like he might stay forever after the Bucks won the 2021 NBA title.

Four years later, things don’t look nearly as promising. Sidekick Damian Lillard tore his left Achilles tendon and could miss most, if not all, of the 2025-26 season.

Lillard joining forces with Antetokounmpo was supposed to help the Bucks contend for another title.

Instead, the Pacers have eliminated Milwaukee in both seasons of the Antetokounmpo-Lillard era.

Lillard’s injury makes the decision tougher for Antetokounmpo. Now 30, the two-time MVP will have to seriously consider whether the Bucks can even contend over the next few seasons.

And the short term matters a lot, as Antetokounmpo begins a three-year, $175 million extension next season. He holds a player option for the 2027-28 season, so push comes to shove even quicker.

If that’s going to be Antetokounmpo’s final contract with the Bucks, then Milwaukee needs to consider dealing him this summer—or after next season—if it wants to maximize the return.

The city of Milwaukee has long felt burned by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar forcing his way out of town after six seasons. Abdul-Jabbar won three MVP awards and the 1970-71 NBA title with the Bucks but told management he wanted to be dealt to either the Los Angeles Lakers or New York Knicks.

Abdul-Jabbar had just one season left on his contract, and the Bucks didn’t want to be left empty-handed. They traded him to the Lakers prior to the 1975-76 season for four players in what became a monumental success for Los Angeles.

Milwaukee went 50 years between titles until Antetokounmpo delivered the one in 2021. Now the Bucks could be headed toward another tough predicament.

From a roster standpoint, there is no chance Antetokounmpo will be happy if the second-best scoring option is Kyle Kuzma. A big signing is needed, but there’s not much cap room with the hefty salaries of Antetokounmpo and Lillard.

Remember, Giannis wants to win a second title in Milwaukee—not lose to the Pacers (or the Pistons or the Magic) in the first round.

The wild card here is Lillard. He was a top-flight star during an 11-season tenure with the Trail Blazers but forced his way out of Portland because he wanted a championship ring.

Lillard believed playing with Antetokounmpo would be a winning hand, and he surely doesn’t expect it to end after just two seasons.

Antetokounmpo obviously holds Lillard in high regard—but how does he factor in Lillard’s injury situation? Especially if it looks like there’s no legitimate opportunity to chase a ring next season.

Antetokounmpo may have to wait until the 2026-27 season to have a real chance at a deep playoff run with the Bucks. Lillard will be 36 then—and who knows what level he’ll be playing at following such a devastating injury.

It’s hard to see Antetokounmpo wanting to wait on another player before resolving his own future.

So Milwaukee’s best move might be trading Antetokounmpo now. It would be tough on fans—but it’ll be even tougher if Giannis someday walks and the Bucks receive nothing in return.