The Milwaukee Bucks’ relationship with Giannis Antetokounmpo has fallen apart, and a new story reveals just how bad it has gotten.
The Bucks receive a big share of the blame for the relationship going sour in the new story by Shams Charania of ESPN. He reports that Antetokounmpo had serious doubts about the Bucks’ ability to contend before the season, but ultimately agreed to give the new roster a chance to show what it could do.
Antetokounmpo ultimately lost faith in the Bucks’ ability to contend, but tried to set up an amicable split. His representatives informed the Bucks quietly that Antetokounmpo was ready to be moved, and even met with ownership to request that the team “do right” by him. The team seemed willing to accept that, but slow-walked trade talks and wound up keeping Antetokounmpo beyond the trade deadline.
“Giannis has wanted to handle this professionally by being very up front with the team,” one source told Charania. “This could have been a happy resolution but instead might end up being a nasty breakup.”
The Bucks, on the other hand, have suggested that Antetokounmpo is “distant” from the rest of the team, and believe the constant speculation about his future has taken a toll on the locker room. Ownership and top executives have reportedly accepted that a trade is inevitable, however.
Ultimately, the situation seems to have been toxic for a while, and both sides share some of the blame. The issues have really spilled into the public domain lately, with the sides at odds over whether he can even play right now. Everyone involved desperately needs to move on, and it appears likely to happen this offseason.
