Giannis Antetokounmpo was not planning for this type of season. After a brilliant summer in which he dragged Greece to a bronze medal at EuroBasket, ending a 16-year drought without a podium finish, the NBA season ahead would turn into one of the most grueling and testing stretches of his career.
The Greek Freak ended up playing the fewest games of his 13-year career, just 36, due to persistent injuries that plagued him throughout the season. As a result, the team also missed the playoffs for the first time in 10 years.
Throughout the year, rumors circulated about whether the two-time MVP wanted out of Wisconsin, and even his own mixed statements only fueled speculation. However, the turning point in his Milwaukee Bucks story may have come late in the season, in a report from Shams Charania , which revealed new details about his situation.
"According to sources, Rivers told a group of veterans, such as Kuzma and Turner, that ownership did not want them to sit because of illegitimate injuries. The expectation was made clear that no one would be shut down early," Shams wrote in his piece for "ESPN". "However, no such edict was delivered from the Bucks to Antetokounmpo."
"Multiple sources said the Bucks' decision to sit Antetokounmpo cost him a significant bonus in his Nike endorsement contract that would have been triggered if he played at least 41 games," he added
The report added another layer of tension to an already complicated relationship between player and organization.
Also, earlier in the season, Giannis and Shams had already developed a noticeably tense dynamic after multiple reports suggested the star was open to a future departure. During All-Star weekend, Giannis publicly dismissed the noise, even taking a subtle shot at Shams after a scoreless Celebrity All-Star Game appearance.
Still, the broader consensus in the league was that the reporting was not far from the truth.
Antetokounmpo had also made headlines with a dramatic "Wolf of Wall Street"-style declaration — posting a clip of Leonardo DiCaprio shouting, "I'm not f***ing leaving" — only to later reiterate that he wants to be in a winning situation.
The 2021 NBA champion has never officially demanded a trade, but it is widely understood that the clock is ticking on Milwaukee's ability to build another contender around him. At this stage of his prime, patience is no longer infinite.
The entire situation surrounding his "Nike" contract, in which the 10-time All-Star allegedly lost millions, a figure that ultimately doesn't change his life, given his already secured financial standing, could still prove to be the final straw in what increasingly looks like a strained, almost toxic relationship.
His biggest desire, however, was to share the floor at least once before the end of the season with his brothers, Thanasis and Alex, a moment that, after capturing bronze alongside Kostas and Thanasis at EuroBasket, would have added yet another historic chapter to the Antetokounmpo family legacy.
But as the season wore on, the situation began to resemble something far more complicated — almost a strained relationship where neither side wanted to be the first to pull the plug and publicly admit it was over, even as it became increasingly clear to everyone watching that the foundation holding it together had already started to crack beyond repair.
With only a handful of games left in the regular season, the question now lingers: will Giannis get that one last moment with his brothers on an NBA court, or will the Bucks hold firm and keep him sidelined until the very end?
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Apr 9, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
