Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks have remained in regular communication regarding his long-term future as he approaches a critical extension decision in October 2026. According to Shams Charania, those discussions have been ongoing for months and have recently become more serious in tone.
“Giannis and the Bucks have been having ongoing conversations about his future,” Charania said on The Pat McAfee Show. “Even going back to May. Those conversations … every single passing week, every single passing month since May when I first reported he was exploring his best fits outside of Milwaukee, for really the first time. And really getting down to which team he would want to go to. Where he would want to be. Those conversations have only grown with every passing week and month since May. And recently, the Bucks and Giannis’ conversations have intensified in nature.”
Antetokounmpo has also shown visible frustration with the situation, both through comments to the media and his reaction to being booed, reflecting the growing strain surrounding the franchise.
“I’ve spoken to about a dozen sources on and off for weeks now,” Charania added. “The tension that is in the air within that organization and within the front office and in that locker room is at an all-time high. There’s a splintering environment going on there.”
Charania also noted that Bucks general manager Jon Horst and head coach Doc Rivers met with Antetokounmpo during the offseason, reiterating the organization’s belief that it has built a roster capable of contending for a championship around him.
“What I’ve been hearing for months and months now is that the writing is on the wall for Giannis and the Bucks,” he said. “How do they get there? When do they get there? 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?”
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks Dialogue On Future Have ‘Recently Intensified’ https://t.co/pxuzwU3vDC
— RealGM (@RealGM) January 23, 2026
