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.
