The Milwaukee Bucks always planned to walk a tightrope this season. They knew they had little margin for error to keep Giannis Antetokounmpo in Wisconsin. They are now a shadow of the contender that won it all in 2020–21. As a result, Giannis Antetokounmpo is quitting on the Bucks. That is okay. Here is why.
Giannis Antetokounmpo Is Quitting On The Bucks And Why That Is Okay
What Giannis Said, And What He Meant
The Bucks currently have a zero percent chance of winning the title this season. Before you rush to call me captain obvious, let’s recall what Giannis said before the regular season tipped off.
“The same thing I’ve been saying my whole career, I want to be on a team that allows me and gives me a chance to win a championship,” Antetokounmpo said at the start of training camp. “I think it’s a disservice to basketball, just to the game, to not want it, to compete at a high level, to want your season to end in April.”
Where The Bucks Stand Now
The Bucks currently sit 11th with an 18–26 record. They trail the final play-in spot by two and a half games. They will also be without Giannis for the next four to six weeks. The two-time MVP suffered a non-contact calf injury last Friday. He averages 28 points, 10 rebounds, and nearly six assists while shooting a career-best 64.5 percent from the field.
Antetokounmpo ruled himself out for four to six weeks after the injury. He did so before undergoing an MRI on Saturday. The Bucks have not released the results. Multiple reports already expect an extended absence for “The Greek Freak.” Players rarely give their own timelines before scans. Giannis did exactly that.
“The next steps will be go to MRI tomorrow, after the MRI they will tell me probably I popped something in my calf, or my soleus, something. They’ll probably give me a protocol of 4-6 weeks that I’ll be out. This is from my experience being around in the NBA,” Antetokounmpo said.
His return date now falls after the trade deadline. That timing feels convenient. It is becoming obvious that Giannis Antetokounmpo is quitting on the Bucks. Over the last five games, he has averaged 11 field goal attempts. His season average sits at 16. His body language in Milwaukee’s recent game against Denver reinforced this shift.
Why The Bucks Share The Blame
The Bucks deserve blame in this situation. Through his quotes, Giannis has shown a desire to join a team with real title chances. However, He does not want to request a trade. Earlier this month, Antetokounmpo told Sam Amick of The Athletic that he would never request a trade.
He wants to avoid leaving on a bad note. Giannis will return to Milwaukee someday to have his jersey retired and a statue built outside Fiserv Forum. The Bucks front office understands this. They are taking advantage of it. They know this roster is not good enough. Milwaukee has no reason to keep one of the top-three players in the world in his prime on a non-contender when they know he wants out.. Giannis should not have to request a trade before Milwaukee does the right thing.
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