milwaukee– box Co-owner Jimmy Haslam says he would like giannis antetokounmpoIts future will be decided before next month’s NBA Draft.
Haslam spoke with general manager Jon Horst at a news conference on Wednesday Introducing Taylor Jenkins As coach of the Bucks. Antetokounmpo has spent his entire 13-year career with the Bucks, but it’s possible he could leave Milwaukee after a disappointing, injury-filled season.
“I think the timing before the draft is natural,” Haslam said. “Because if Giannis plays somewhere else, we should have a lot of possessions. That’s John’s job. And if he’s here, you structure the team differently.”
Antetokounmpo has repeatedly said he likes playing in Milwaukee but wants to play for a franchise committed to competing for championships. The Bucks went 32–50 in nine consecutive playoff appearances this season.
The Bucks could offer Antetokounmpo a four-year, $275 million contract extension in October. If Antetokounmpo does not sign, he could become a free agent after next season.
Haslam, also co-owner of the NFL cleveland brownsWould like the matter to be resolved much before October. He spoke Wednesday as if the decision rested as much on the Bucks as it did on Antetokounmpo.
“We never had a problem communicating directly with Giannis – and always knew where he stood,” Haslam said. “And I think he always knew where we stood. We’ve had these conversations since the season ended. … So over the next six or seven weeks, we’ll decide whether Giannis is going to sign a max contract and stay with us, or he’s going to play somewhere else. And John and Taylor, along with [co-owner] wes [Edens] And I would make that call myself, and we understand the seriousness of that call.”
The Bucks will have a lottery pick this year at their spot or on their own new Orleans‘Spot, whichever is less favourable. The draft lottery is on Sunday.
Antetokounmpo, 31, led the Bucks to their first title in half a century in 2021, and he holds almost all of the franchise’s major career records. He won his first of two straight MVP awards in 2018–19, when Jenkins was an assistant on Mike Budenholzer’s staff.
Horst said the Bucks had sought input from Antetokounmpo and other players during previous coaching searches, but did not do so this time. Jenkins said he has communicated with Antetokounmpo since taking the job.
“They have expressed tremendous enthusiasm for me and my family,” Jenkins said. “Obviously, even being here for one season, he and I established a really good relationship and maintained that respect even from a distance.”
41 year old Jenkins coached Grizzlies from 2019 to 2025 and went 250–214, making them three straight playoff appearances from 2021 to 2023. Memphis advanced beyond the first round under Jenkins in 2022, when the second-seeded Grizzlies defeated minnesota before losing golden state In the Western Conference Semifinals.
Memphis was decimated by injuries in 2023–24 and went 27–55. The Grizzlies fired Jenkins with nine games remaining in the 2024–25 season and eventually became champions. Oklahoma City In the first round of the playoffs.
Jenkins’ success with Memphis made him an attractive head coaching candidate, and he immediately focused on a potential return to Milwaukee rather than waiting to find out if any playoff team made a coaching change.
He understood that it was possible that he would not coach Antetokounmpo.
“When this opportunity became available, I was like, I know people,” Jenkins said. “I know what they want. I know what their standards will be on a day-to-day basis.”
Jenkins will become the Bucks’ fourth coach in five seasons, barring Joe Prunty’s three-game interim stint in February 2024.
Budenholzer, who led Milwaukee to the 2021 title, was fired after a 2023 playoff loss miami. Adrian Griffin lasted barely half a season, going 30-13 before being fired. Doc Rivers took over and stepped down after this season with a 97–103 record.
The Bucks were one of the league’s most disappointing teams this season as injuries limited Antetokounmpo to a career-low 36 games.
“Giannis has led Milwaukee to its second championship and first in 50 years,” Haslam said. “He’s an amazing player.
