Giannis Antetokounmpo faces major choice about Bucks future

Giannis Antetokounmpo is approaching a crucial point in his career that could determine his long-term future with the Milwaukee Bucks.

The two-time MVP has a player option for the 2027-28 season, meaning he can become a free agent in 2027 if he doesn’t sign an extension during the 2026 offseason.

Antetokounmpo has previously applied pressure to the Bucks before committing to new deals – in 2020 after they acquired Jrue Holiday, and again in 2023 following the trade for Damian Lillard.

This past offseason, he chose to stay after Milwaukee decided to waive-and-stretch Lillard to bring in Myles Turner.

“Always got to hold ownership’s feet to the fire,” a source close to Giannis told ESPN.

The Bucks reportedly held brief trade talks with the New York Knicks over the summer, though discussions didn’t advance.

Giannis reiterated that winning remains his top priority, saying, “I want to be in a situation that I can win … The moment I step on this court or in this facility, I wear this jersey, the rest does not matter. Now, if in six, seven months I change my mind, I think that’s human, too.”

Despite outside speculation, the Bucks insist there’s no internal conflict.

“There’s no bigger difference,” a team source told ESPN, “than the perception of the outside compared to what’s going on in-house.”

Still, with his next extension decision looming in 2026, both sides know the clock is ticking on one of the league’s most important relationships.