Giannis Antetokounmpo may not have shown it yet, but he has to get frustrated as the Milwaukee Bucks fell 0-2 to the Indiana Pacers in the first round.
In 2021, Giannis Antetokounmpo reached the top of the NBA, leading the Milwaukee Bucks to the NBA Finals, defeating the Phoenix Suns. Since then, the Bucks have only won a single playoff series and have already fallen 0-2 against the Indiana Pacers despite a dominant show from the superstars.
Antetokounmpo has long made it clear that he is not satisfied with just one ring. If the Bucks lose in the first round of the third season, it’s hard to imagine Milwaukee returning as a title contender next season. He gave the city everything he could and while his patience may be diminished, it has become the highest ever.
If the Pacers defeat the Bucks, it’s probably hoping Antetokounmpo will be the name to watch this offseason.
Despite the dominant season, Antetokounmpo will not win the MVP this season. He was nominated, but Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgaus Alexander are heavy favorites. For Giannis, that doesn’t matter, as he has long made it clear that the success of the team was his sole focus.
Without a competitive roster around him, the small market beloved may demand trade, and no one will blame him.
“What should he do?” asked Brian Windhorst of ESPN. “This is the elephant in the league room right now. This team has lost tens of millions of dollars. Tens of millions of dollars.
“Lopez and Portis are free agents. I think Dame is up for an extension. I don’t know what you’re doing about it.”
Even if the Bucks extend second-best player Lillard and let Portis and Lopez walk, they don’t have the cap space to add an ideal free agent. Despite their undeniable talent, Lillard and Antetocomo do not coexist well as Jrue Holiday and Giannis did.
“What is Giannis supposed to do this summer?” added Tim McMahon. “Like him, he sees this and he has a decision to decide.
“Does he want to be one franchise guy, or do he want to compete for the championship while he’s still at his prime? You know.
With the Phoenix Suns missing the postseason, Kevin Durant is almost guaranteed to be traded. Both Trae Young and Ja Morant are included in the trade rumors. This only grows when the Memphis Grizzlies are swept in the first round.
Domantas Sabonis floats his name, as Zion Williamson does. But even Durant is less coveted than Giannis.
If he asks for a deal with three full seasons left on the contract and many prime seasons remaining, the Bucks will command one of the biggest hauls in recent memory, and immediately begin a rebuild and find some direction.
Antetokounmpo has long been expected of Tim Duncan, Dirk Nowicki and Kobe Bryant as the greatest of all time who began and ended his career on the same team, but if the Bucks were made clear that they were not a title team, no one would blame him for asking him.