It was immediately ahead of the start of the 2023-24 NBA season that Milwaukee Bucks star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo surprisingly signed a three-year, $186 million contract extension with the team.
Giannis had indicated during the summer that it did not make sense for him to sign an extension before the 2024 offseason. He had also talked at length about winning taking priority over being loyal to the Bucks.
According to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne, that latter point led to superstars on rival teams lining up to recruit Antetokounmpo in case he ever decided to leave the Bucks.
“Rival superstars had begun reaching out to Antetokounmpo, pitching new collaborations, league sources told ESPN. Rival teams had already begun planning for a potential bidding war, league sources told ESPN, should Antetokounmpo ever become available.”
Report on Giannis Antetokounmpo recruitment
In today’s NBA, this shouldn’t necessarily come as too much of a surprise. There is generally open discussion between star players when it comes to the possibility of forming superteams. We saw that when Golden State Warriors stars recruited Kevin Durant to the Bay Area ahead of the 2016 season. It has taken on new meaning since.
Players having general discusions about teaming up and future plans doesn’t necessarily fall under the guise of the NBA anti-tampering policy. That must be pointed out in today’s reactionary climate.
Giannis Antetokounmpo stats (2023-24): 31.1 PPG, 11.8 RPG, 5.7 APG, 55% shooting
As one of the best players on the planet, there is not another star out there that wouldn’t want to team up with the Greek Freak. The recruitment also stems from these comments by Giannis back in September.
“I’m a Milwaukee Buck, but most importantly I’m a winner. If there is a better situation for me to win the Larry O’Brien I have to take that better situation,” Antetokounmpo said.
Now that Milwaukee added that other star in the form of Damian Lillard and Antetokounmpo is tied to the team through at least the 2026-27 season, we can put all of the rumors of him jumping ship to rest.
The Bucks open their season Thursday night against a Philadelphia 76ers team that finds itself in a much different situation involving another star player.