Bucks executive opens up on Giannis Antetokounmpo trade rumors

The Milwaukee Bucks' waiver-and-stretch of Damian Lillard intensified existing social media rumors about Giannis Antetokounmpo potentially forcing his way out of the team. Despite these rumors and the Lillard move, Antetokounmpo remains with the Bucks weeks later, and the team strongly believes he will stay.

A Bucks front office executive stated they have "no indication" their relationship with Antetokounmpo, whom they consider the best player in the world, is changing. They expressed confidence in successfully rebuilding "on the fly" under challenging circumstances. League-wide Antetokounmpo trade rumors have subsided, and while acknowledging anything is possible in the NBA, executives, including one from the Western Conference, currently doubt stars like Antetokounmpo or LeBron James will move.

Antetokounmpo previously committed to Milwaukee with a highly lucrative contract extension. While he was highly critical of the team's effort last season, and another early playoff exit could have pushed him to leave, he has publicly emphasized his desire to win championships "the right way" rather than simply chasing rings.

However, factors like head coach Doc Rivers' history of postseason struggles and a potentially closing championship window mean Antetokounmpo trade rumors are likely to resurface on social media if the Bucks experience a slow start during the upcoming 2026-26 season.