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Tim Bontemps
multiple authors
Philadelphia – after milwaukee bucks‘Season-end 126-106 damage to philadelphia 76ers, giannis antetokounmpo Gave contradictory messages about their future.
On the one hand, he said he’s not sure whether he’s played his final game with the Bucks, the only franchise the future Hall of Famer has ever played for in his 13-year NBA career. But Antetokounmpo hasn’t closed the door on signing another extension in October if he was offered it.
Antetokounmpo took questions for about 10 minutes — shortly after coach Doc Rivers, what’s going As coach of the Bucks, finished his media session.
When Antetokounmpo was asked if he had played his last game in a Milwaukee uniform, he said, “That’s a very good question.” “I don’t know. It’s not up to me. We’ll see.”
Throughout his media session, Antetokounmpo did not hide his frustration about this season, saying that the Bucks are as far from contention as they have been at any point in his career and discussing the lack of communication with the franchise.
“I feel like sometimes people just don’t listen,” he said. “They listen to the sources. The main source is me. That’s who I am. So again, don’t bother on my phone, learn about my day, improve and come back better.”
But where will Antetokounmpo be playing when he returns? How Milwaukee handles this situation is one of the NBA’s biggest offseason questions, especially if the Bucks hear offers for him before the February trade deadline.
Antetokounmpo is also frustrated that the team has not cleared him to play, despite insisting he is healthy after suffering a hyperextension and bone bruise in his left knee last month. He also wanted to play with his two brothers, Thanasis and Alex, who are also on the roster, but the Bucks said he was not physically ready to play.
When Antetokounmpo was asked if he had control over his situation, he said, “At this point? Zero.” “I don’t have control. After being cleared to play, I don’t understand… From my understanding, coming back to play, I don’t think I ever had a return to play protocol, but my understanding is I had to play 3-on-3 to be able to be available to play. I did that several times. I’ve never refused participation in practice in my life.
“I don’t know who said that, who said that, but it’s disrespectful to what I’ve done for this team and the way I’ve led my entire career.
“But I did what I was supposed to do. I wasn’t able to come on the court anymore. Who’s to say that? It probably comes from my boss, probably from front office members or owners. So, I thought I had control, like, ‘Okay, if I’m healthy, I’m going to play.’ But this shows me that not only me, players in general also have no control. We have to do what we’re told. So, to answer your question, no. I didn’t feel like I had control.”
When Antetokounmpo was asked if the rift with the Bucks had led to a communication breakdown, he smiled and talked about his marriage and how communication strengthens his bond with his wife.
“I’m big on communication,” Antetokounmpo said. “I’ve always been open, but I don’t know … it has to go both ways. It has to go both ways. It can’t go one way.”
Two-way communication could come into play during potential extension talks in the fall — assuming Antetokounmpo isn’t traded in the offseason. Last month, Bucks owner Wes Edens told ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne that Antetokounmpo would either be extended or traded before becoming an unrestricted free agent next summer.
When asked if he would agree to an extension if he remained with the team in October, Antetokounmpo did not rule out the possibility.
“We’ll see when we get there,” Antetokounmpo said. “We have [several] month [until then] …it’s been a long time. But someone has to offer it to you for you to sign. I have not been offered an extension. So, if he is at the negotiating table, I will try to make the best decision for me and my family.
“But if it’s not on the negotiating table, I have to focus on how I can improve my skills and get out on the floor and do what I do best.”
Either way, the Bucks have a lot to deal with this summer. They will be looking for a new coach, and more changes are possible. But that’s to be expected after the franchise’s nine-year postseason streak was broken, in which the Bucks finished 32-50 this season. Antetokounmpo made it clear that he believes the record reflects the state of the team.
“We are very bad. We are the furthest we have been in years,” he said. “How many wins did we get? 32? That’s my second fewest wins ever. So yeah, I think that’s the furthest we’ve ever gotten. So, we’ll see.
“That’s what we have in front of us. I didn’t think we’d be in this position last year, so I don’t know what position we’ll be in next year.
“So, if everything goes well, hopefully the Bucks want me here, why not? But if they don’t? OK.”
