Giannis Antetokounmpo addressed the media for the first time since Shams Charania's report about the Milwaukee Bucks and the New York Knicks engaging in trade talks involving him.
While he did give Bucks fans a sigh of relief by declaring that he is focused on leading Milwaukee to another championship this season, he also gave them something to think about by not promising anything beyond the 2025-26 NBA season.
"I've said this many times: I want to be in a situation that I can win," Antetokounmpo said. "I believe in this team. I believe in my teammates. I'm here to lead this team wherever we can go. It's definitely going to be hard. We're going to take it day by day, but I'm here. So all the extra stuff does not matter."
Charania reported earlier this week that the Bucks and Knicks held conversations about Antetokounmpo for a "window of time" after he reportedly told his organization that the only team he would play for other than them would be the Knicks.
Antetokounmpo told reporters on Wednesday that he has not read Charania's story because, at this time of year, he gets off social media so he can focus on the NBA campaign at hand. That being said, he assured the media that his current focus is on being a Buck and that he will do everything in his power to lead the team to another championship.
However, Giannis also left them hanging by not making any promises about what would happen after the current season.
"I've communicated with my teammates, communicated with the people I respect and love, that the moment I step on this court or in this facility, I wear this jersey, the rest does not matter. I'm locked into whatever I have in front of me. Now, if in six, seven months I change my mind, I think that's human," he added.
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Ever since the start of summer, Charania has discussed Antetokounmpo potentially leaving the Bucks. Both the player and the team denied the rumors, and after Milwaukee signed Giannis' brother Thanasis , everyone thought that was the end of the chatter.
However, Charania's recent revelation has brought renewed worries to the Milwaukee faithful, especially after Giannis' wife and children left the United States to settle in Athens permanently.
"Antetokounmpo's wife and children have already moved into a brand new, futuristic-looking, and custom-built apartment complex in Athens' 'diplomatic row' neighborhood, Paleo Psychiko. The complex features separate apartments for each of Giannis Antetokounmpo 's brothers, and one for his widowed mother. The couple's two eldest children, five-year-old Liam Charles and four-year-old Maverick Shai, have also started attending an elite private kindergarten in the same district," per tovima .
There's also a video clip of Giannis seemingly confirming this story in an interview with a Greek media outlet. With Newark, New Jersey, being home to the only U.S. airport offering daily direct flights to and from Athens, Charania's report about Antetokounmpo wanting to play exclusively for the Knicks quickly gained traction.
He may have denied it, but as the saying goes, "Where there's smoke, there's always fire." Let's see what he says in six months.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Oct 9, 2025, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
