When a staff has a generational expertise on their roster, it may be straightforward to relaxation on their laurels. It looks like having that caliber of participant ought to make any franchise an annual contender for the NBA Championship. In actuality, basketball is a staff sport, and one actually legendary participant can solely drag everybody else to the promised land so many occasions, if in any respect.
That is the state of the Milwaukee Bucks and Giannis Antetokounmpo. He has been within the NBA since 2013, carving out a legendary profession that features two league MVPs, 9 All-Star appearances, and being named the 2020 NBA Defensive Participant of the 12 months. The 2024-25 season additionally noticed him add NBA Cup Champion and MVP to his checklist of accomplishments.
Regardless of his in depth private accolades, Giannis solely has one NBA Championship tied to his identify. That is as a result of the Bucks have didn’t put collectively a dependable assist roster round Antetokounmpo, which might result in a deep playoff run. Because the 2025-26 season looms, it is grow to be abundantly clear the franchise has but once more finished little to set him up for achievement.
The Bucks owed Giannis Antetokounmpo a greater low season
With the Bucks’ incapacity to place a championship roster collectively since their chip in 2021, Giannis commerce rumors fly round yearly. This low season has been no exception. As per typical, nothing has materialized. It is well-known across the league that the Bucks desperately wish to hold Giannis, and Giannis seems fairly joyful residing in Milwaukee.
On the identical time, it is also well-known across the league that Giannis is moderately sad with the entrance workplace. Low season after low season appears to come back and go together with few significant roster strikes made. Once more, this season has been no exception. Giannis has been left with a “new look” crew that seemingly does not have the expertise or firepower to get the job finished.
After two injury-plagued seasons with the Bucks, Damian Lillard is on his method again to Portland. The Bucks did signal Myles Turner, although that commerce was largely notable as a result of nobody may consider the Pacers fumbled their longest-tenured participant. Past that, acquisitions have included Jericho Sims and Cole Anthony. Each are good gamers, simply not move-the-needle good.
Watch Giannis on the commerce deadline
This dance has been happening between Giannis and the Bucks for years. The franchise talks a great recreation, but not often comes by way of with the strikes to even contend, not to mention win. Sadly, the 2025/26 season appears to be like about the identical at this level. Primarily based on what followers are seeing, the best-case situation is Giannis dragging the Bucks into the playoffs and dropping within the first spherical.
The fact is that Giannis is just 30, that means he has a number of years of nice basketball left in his profession. Just like the Nuggets and Nikola Jokic, the Bucks are losing the prime years of a generational expertise. On a franchise that truly has the items in place to win or is keen to construct round Giannis, there would simply be extra titles in Antetokounmpo’s future.
If the Bucks get off to a gradual begin and aren’t trying prepared for a deep playoff run proper now, seeing motion from Giannis across the 2026 commerce deadline wouldn’t be surprising. It is a future Corridor of Famer who ought to have a couple of title on his resume. Giannis needs to win, and his love of Milwaukee will solely hold him on the Bucks for thus lengthy earlier than he strikes to a different group.
