MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JULY 20: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks celebrates winning the Bill Russell NBA Finals MVP Award after defeating the Phoenix Suns in Game Six to win the 2021 NBA Finals at Fiserv Forum on July 20, 2021 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
The Milwaukee Bucks will be keeping their franchise star for the rest of the season, at least.
The Bucks announced on Feb. 5 that they will not be trading Giannis Antetokounmpo. Antetokounmpo has been involved in trade rumors for most of the season.
The Bucks drafted Antetokounmpo with the No. 15 pick in the 2013 NBA draft. Most teams thought he was too skinny for the NBA, and that he was going to be a Nicolas Batum-like player at best.
Antetokounmpo went on to win two MVPs and a Finals MVP with the Bucks. Since the 2021 championship, the Bucks have dealt with injuries hindering their success. Damian Lillard tearing his Achilles in the 2025 playoffs looked like it could be the final domino.
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The Bucks tried their best to make the best possible roster. They released Lillard and signed Myles Turner. On paper, the roster made sense from a basketball perspective. They surrounded Antetokounmpo with good shooters. However, injuries have prevented the Bucks from finding consistency.
At the trade deadline, the Bucks hold the No. 12 seed in the Eastern Conference. They are three games behind the Chicago Bulls for the No. 10 seed.
The Bucks are likely playing the long game in finding a trade partner for Antetokounmpo. The Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs hold the best possible trade packages for a star. However, neither of these teams are feeling urgency to make a big move. If either of these teams disappoint in the playoffs, they may be more willing to make a move.
For now, the Bucks will look to maximize their time with Antetokounmpo. On Jan. 27, Antetokounmpo was diagnosed with a calf strain.
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