Giannis Antetokounmpo Denies Old Trade Request Rumors As Bucks Bounce Back

Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo rejected claims that he would ever request a trade, citing his loyalty to the team and his family’s ties to the city. Trade rumors involving Antetokounmpo were rampant earlier this season after a poor start to the Bucks’ season.

When Milwaukee began the season with a 1-6, Antetokounmpo seemed so indifferent to the idea of a trade that people began to claim that he was on the verge of requesting one himself. Speaking about the idea at All-Star Weekend, the Greek Freak painted a vastly different picture, saying that the team would have to kick him out of the building in the event of a trade.

The Bucks have bounced back from their rocky start, winning the NBA Cup and improving to a 29-24 record. They are now fifth in the Eastern Conference and well on their way to a playoff berth, which naturally makes it easier for Antetokounmpo to speak well of the situation and shoot down previous trade rumors.

On the other hand, the Antetokounmpo’s attitude toward trades has always been consistent. The big man has repeatedly described the NBA as a business, and has always said he would honor a trade and do his best to win on another team. He has also accepted that repeated failure in Milwaukee may force the front office to reevaluate its core group of players.

In the rush to cover a rough stretch for the Bucks, however, many conflated Antetokounmpo’s pragmatism and disappointment. Antetokounmpo and the team are in a much better place now, and he is free to discuss the idea of a trade without the immediate danger of it occurring. In doing so, he has revealed that he was frustrated about losing games but never considered leaving on his own terms.

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Article by Patrick Moquin