Giannis Antetokounmpo still has not signed a new, long-term supermax extension with the Milwaukee Bucks. The assumption heading into the draft was that it would be a done deal by the time the season rolled around. The season is starting this week – yet no deal is imminent.
On Wednesday, Antetokounmpo cryptically addressed the situation.
“I’m not focused on that,” he said. “I know my agent, Alex [Saratsis], and [Bucks general manager] Jon Horst and the Bucks ownership are focusing on those discussions, but I’m just trying to focus on myself — how I can get better, how I can help my teammates get better, how can we be ready Saturday to play our first preseason game?”
Coming to an agreement on a supermax extension is not something any of the parties involved are taking lightly – most of all Antetokounmpo.
“I think about everything,” he said.
“I think about Milwaukee. I think about my teammates. I think about my family. I think about what’s the best decision for me, but that’s pretty much it. Then, after that, I realize that I’ve got so far because I’ve focused on how I can improve every single day.
“I love the city of Milwaukee. I love the organization. I love my family to death. I love winning, but at the end of the day, I wouldn’t be in this situation if I wasn’t working hard, I wasn’t winning games, I wasn’t improving every day and I didn’t have this mentality.
“So I can’t change who I am, I cannot change this mentality, and I’m gonna focus on improving, and day by day, everything’s gonna take care of itself. You guys probably are gonna know what’s going on before I do. That’s what usually happens. You guys know more than me.”
Will Antetokounmpo ultimately stay in Milwaukee long-term? Time will tell.
A graduate from the University of Texas, Anthony Amador has been credentialed to cover the Houston Texans, Dallas Cowboys, San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Mavericks and high school games all over the Lone Star State. Currently, his primary beats are the NBA, MLB, NFL and UFC.
