Stuck in Greece because he contracted COVID-19,Giannis Antetokounmpospoke to reporters virtually and maintained that he wants to compete forNBA championshipsbut did not give any assurances that he's committed to theMilwaukee Bucksbeyond the present.
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"I want to be on a team that allows me and gives me a chance to win a championship," he said Monday. "It is never going to change. I want to be among the best."
Earlier Monday, Bucks owner Wes Edens said he and Antetokounmpo met in June, and that Antetokounmpo reaffirmed his commitment to Milwaukee. When it was his turn to speak, Antetokounmpo said he could not recall that conversation.
"It's a disservice to basketball and just to the game, to not want it to compete in a high level, to want your season to end in April," Antetokounmpo added. "It's pretty much the same. It's not the first time. I had the same thoughts last year. I had the same thoughts two years ago."
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
(Alonzo Adams Media)
Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City Thunder
(Alonzo Adams Media)
Alex Caruso, Oklahoma City Thunder
(Alonzo Adams, Alonzo Adams Media)
Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
(Cary Edmondson, Imagn Images)
Jimmy Butler III, Golden State Warriors
(Cary Edmondson, Imagn Images)
Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors
(Cary Edmondson, Imagn Images)
Trayce Jackson-Davis, Golden State Warriors
(Cary Edmondson, Imagn Images)
LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers
(Gary A. Vasquez, Imagn Images)
Luka Doncic, Los Angeles Lakers
(Gary A. Vasquez, Imagn Images)
Austin Reaves, Los Angeles Lakers
(Gary A. Vasquez, Imagn Images)
Derrick White, Boston Celtics
(David Butler II, Imagn Images)
Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving and forward Cooper Flagg, Dallas Mavericks
(Jerome Miron, Imagn Images)
Caleb Martin, Dallas Mavericks
(Jerome Miron, Imagn Images)
Dwight Powell, Dallas Mavericks
(Jerome Miron, Imagn Images)
Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers
(Ken Blaze, Imagn Images)
Kyle Kuzma, Milwaukee Bucks
(Benny Sieu, Imagn Images)
Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Clippers
(Jayne Kamin-Oncea, Imagn Images)
Derrick Jones Jr., Los Angeles Clippers
(Jayne Kamin-Oncea, Imagn Images)
Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers
(Jayne Kamin-Oncea, Imagn Images)
Bradley Beal, Los Angeles Clippers
(Jayne Kamin-Oncea, Imagn Images)
Pascal Siakam, Indiana Pacers
(Trevor Ruszkowski, Imagn Images)
Noa Essengue, Chicago Bulls
(David Banks, Imagn Images)
Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
(Isaiah J. Downing, Imagn Images)
Curtis Jones, Denver Nuggets
(Isaiah J. Downing, Imagn Images)
Kevin Durant, Amen Thompson and Alperen Sengun, Houston Rockets
(Troy Taormina, Imagn Images)
De’Aaron Fox, San Antonio Spurs
(Scott Wachter, Imagn Images)
De’Aaron Fox, Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle, San Antonio Spurs
(Scott Wachter, Imagn Images)
Jalen Duren, Detroit Pistons
(David Reginek, Imagn Images)
Scoot Henderson, Portland Trail Blazers
(Troy Wayrynen, Imagn Images)
Matisse Thybulle, Portland Trail Blazers
(Troy Wayrynen, Imagn Images)
Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks
(Brett Davis, Imagn Images)
Jalen Johnson, Atlanta Hawks
(Brett Davis, Imagn Images)
Kelly Oubre Jr., Philadelphia 76ers
(Bill Streicher, Imagn Images)
Jordan Goodwin, Phoenix Suns
(Mark J. Rebilas, Imagn Images)
Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans
(Matthew Hinton, Imagn Images)
Trey Murphy III, Zion Williamson and Herbert Jones, New Orleans Pelicans
(Matthew Hinton, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
(Alonzo Adams Media)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
(Alonzo Adams Media)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City Thunder
(Alonzo Adams Media)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Alex Caruso, Oklahoma City Thunder
(Alonzo Adams, Alonzo Adams Media)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
(Cary Edmondson, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Jimmy Butler III, Golden State Warriors
(Cary Edmondson, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors
(Cary Edmondson, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Trayce Jackson-Davis, Golden State Warriors
(Cary Edmondson, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers
(Gary A. Vasquez, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Luka Doncic, Los Angeles Lakers
(Gary A. Vasquez, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Austin Reaves, Los Angeles Lakers
(Gary A. Vasquez, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Derrick White, Boston Celtics
(David Butler II, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving and forward Cooper Flagg, Dallas Mavericks
(Jerome Miron, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Caleb Martin, Dallas Mavericks
(Jerome Miron, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Dwight Powell, Dallas Mavericks
(Jerome Miron, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers
(Ken Blaze, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Kyle Kuzma, Milwaukee Bucks
(Benny Sieu, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Clippers
(Jayne Kamin-Oncea, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Derrick Jones Jr., Los Angeles Clippers
(Jayne Kamin-Oncea, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers
(Jayne Kamin-Oncea, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Bradley Beal, Los Angeles Clippers
(Jayne Kamin-Oncea, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Pascal Siakam, Indiana Pacers
(Trevor Ruszkowski, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Noa Essengue, Chicago Bulls
(David Banks, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
(Isaiah J. Downing, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Curtis Jones, Denver Nuggets
(Isaiah J. Downing, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Kevin Durant, Amen Thompson and Alperen Sengun, Houston Rockets
(Troy Taormina, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
De’Aaron Fox, San Antonio Spurs
(Scott Wachter, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
De’Aaron Fox, Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle, San Antonio Spurs
(Scott Wachter, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Jalen Duren, Detroit Pistons
(David Reginek, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Scoot Henderson, Portland Trail Blazers
(Troy Wayrynen, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Matisse Thybulle, Portland Trail Blazers
(Troy Wayrynen, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks
(Brett Davis, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Jalen Johnson, Atlanta Hawks
(Brett Davis, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Kelly Oubre Jr., Philadelphia 76ers
(Bill Streicher, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Jordan Goodwin, Phoenix Suns
(Mark J. Rebilas, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans
(Matthew Hinton, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Trey Murphy III, Zion Williamson and Herbert Jones, New Orleans Pelicans
Antetokounmpo, 30, led Milwaukee to a title in 2021 but has maintained that he wants to keep competing for more championships. With the Bucks undergoing some roster turnover — including the offseason waiving and stretching of former point guard Damian Lillard — rumors swirled that Antetokounmpo could potentially ask out of Milwaukee.
Team owner Wes Edens dispelled that notion.
"I had a great conversation with Giannis back in June out here, where he was very committed to Milwaukee," Edens told reporters Monday. "He likes being here. He likes his family being here."
