Giannis Antetokounmpo denies talking to Bucks about future with team, but his agent could be another story
Giannis Antetokounmpo walks fine line between denial and disaster in Milwaukee
For the first time since a bombshell report earlier this month suggested his camp was discussing his future with the Milwaukee Bucks, Giannis Antetokounmpo faced the media on Thursday. While the two-time MVP technically denied personally asking for a trade, his comments regarding his agent, Alex Saratsis, did little to extinguish the fire engulfing the franchise.
Antetokounmpo, currently sidelined with a soleus (calf) strain, told reporters he has "personally not had the conversation" with the Bucks about moving on. However, when pressed about the December 3 report from ESPN’s Shams Charania—which detailed talks between Saratsis and team brass—Giannis offered a masterclass in plausible deniability.
"If my agent is talking to the Bucks about it, he is his own person," Antetokounmpo said. "He can have any conversation he wants about it. At the end of the day, I don't work for my agent, my agent works for me."
To seasoned league observers, this distinction is significant. In the modern NBA, agents often serve as the conduit for dissatisfaction, allowing the superstar to maintain a "locked in" public persona while their representation applies pressure behind closed doors. By explicitly stating he "can't control" his agent's conversations with rival GMs, Antetokounmpo has effectively validated the rumors without putting his own voice to a trade request.
The context surrounding these comments is grim. The Bucks have stumbled to a disastrous 11-17 record, sitting 11th in the Eastern Conference. The roster looks aging and disjointed, and Antetokounmpo’s latest soft-tissue injury has only highlighted the team's fragility. While he insists his focus is on rehabilitation and helping his teammates, the timeline for his return remains 4-6 weeks.
Milwaukee now faces a terrifying reality: their franchise cornerstone is frustrated, their win-now window is slamming shut, and the "conversations" happening in the shadows are growing louder. Giannis may not be speaking to the Bucks about an exit yet, but it appears his agent is doing plenty of talking for him.
For the first time since a bombshell report earlier this month suggested his camp was discussing his future with the Milwaukee Bucks, Giannis Antetokounmpo faced the media on Thursday. While the two-time MVP technically denied personally asking for a trade, his comments regarding his agent, Alex Saratsis, did little to extinguish the fire engulfing the franchise.
Antetokounmpo, currently sidelined with a soleus (calf) strain, told reporters he has "personally not had the conversation" with the Bucks about moving on. However, when pressed about the December 3 report from ESPN’s Shams Charania—which detailed talks between Saratsis and team brass—Giannis offered a masterclass in plausible deniability.
"If my agent is talking to the Bucks about it, he is his own person," Antetokounmpo said. "He can have any conversation he wants about it. At the end of the day, I don't work for my agent, my agent works for me."
To seasoned league observers, this distinction is significant. In the modern NBA, agents often serve as the conduit for dissatisfaction, allowing the superstar to maintain a "locked in" public persona while their representation applies pressure behind closed doors. By explicitly stating he "can't control" his agent's conversations with rival GMs, Antetokounmpo has effectively validated the rumors without putting his own voice to a trade request.
The context surrounding these comments is grim. The Bucks have stumbled to a disastrous 11-17 record, sitting 11th in the Eastern Conference. The roster looks aging and disjointed, and Antetokounmpo’s latest soft-tissue injury has only highlighted the team's fragility. While he insists his focus is on rehabilitation and helping his teammates, the timeline for his return remains 4-6 weeks.
Milwaukee now faces a terrifying reality: their franchise cornerstone is frustrated, their win-now window is slamming shut, and the "conversations" happening in the shadows are growing louder. Giannis may not be speaking to the Bucks about an exit yet, but it appears his agent is doing plenty of talking for him.
