By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo met with the media and addressed recent trade rumors linking him to other teams — including the New York Knicks — following an ESPN report suggesting possible discussions about his future.
When asked about the story, Giannis was clear: he hasn’t read it, nor is he letting outside noise distract him from his focus on basketball and the Bucks.
“First of all, I haven’t read that story. When the season started, I tried to get off social media, try to focus on my craft and the team,” he said. “But yeah, I’ve said this many times: I want to be in situations where I can win, and right now I’m here. I believe in this team. I believe in my teammates.”
Antetokounmpo, who led Milwaukee to an NBA championship in 2021, emphasized his role as a leader and his commitment to the group in the present moment.
“I’m here to lead this team wherever we can go, and it’s going to be hard. We’re going to take it day by day, but I’m here. All the other extra stuff does not matter,” he continued. “The moment I step on this court or in this facility and wear this jersey, the rest doesn’t matter. I’m locked into whatever I have in front of me.”
At the same time, the Greek superstar acknowledged that it’s human to reconsider the future as circumstances change.
“If in six or seven months I change my mind, I think that’s human too,” he said.
Giannis also used a lighthearted analogy to describe the “temptations” that come during the offseason.
“It’s like temptation, you know? When you’re walking through the amusement park, not wearing your wedding ring, and people are looking at you — ‘Oh, he’s kind of handsome.’ Temptation starts when the season ends and lasts until the next one begins. A lot of people will approach me or my agent and say, ‘Hey, this is a possibility.’ But at the end of the day, I’ll make my decision. And my decision today is that I’m here and committed to this team.”
Throughout the conversation, Antetokounmpo reiterated how much he values the team environment in Milwaukee and the energy within the group.
“I try to stay away from social media when the season starts. I feel the energy within my teammates — through conversations, practices, in the locker room, on the bus, on the plane. The rest is just noise,” he said. “Before I came here, they told me: ‘They’re going to ask about this.’ I’ve always wanted to be in Milwaukee, always wanted to represent the city — as long as we have an opportunity to win. And I feel like we do, with this guy right here.”
Finally, Giannis was asked about balancing his NBA career with national team duties. He admitted that while representing Greece is one of his greatest honors, family and financial realities must come first.
“If I had to choose between the NBA and playing for the national team — yeah, it’s a difficult choice. Representing your country is the best feeling, but we don’t get paid. We spend two or three months away from family. I’ve played in nine tournaments, and eight didn’t end in success. You end up crying, feeling humiliated because you didn’t medal. If there were a way to make a living doing that, I’d choose the national team all day. But realistically, there’s no league in the world that compensates like the NBA. I have to take care of my family.”
For now, Antetokounmpo’s message is straightforward — he remains locked in on Milwaukee and determined to lead the Bucks into another championship push.
“I’m here, and I’m committed to this team.”