Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s aspirations for another championship have taken a hit following the Milwaukee Bucks’ disappointing first-round exit in the 2024 NBA playoffs. The Bucks entered as the prohibitive favorites as they boasted a nightmare lineup with their new star, Damian Lillard. Those dreams were dashed when Antetokounmpo strained his calf just a week before the postseason, sidelining him for the whole playoffs.
As they went barreling into the playoffs, they were full of hope. Together, they had created what everyone thought to be one of the league’s most fearsome duos. Both Antetokounmpo and Lillard struggled to establish chemistry during the postseason, having played only two full playoff games together since Lillard’s arrival. This lack of on-court time raises questions about their future as a tandem and the overall direction of the team.
Antetokounmpo has a track record of demonstrating his competitive spirit and drive to win. He elaborated on this recently during an appearance on his brother Thanasis’ podcast. He highlighted the need to align individual delivery with team outcomes to focus on winning as a team.
“Me not having a second championship — I look back at my career and everybody can say, ‘Oh, incredible career, active Hall of Famer, first ballot, whatever, but me, my personal goal, if I am not able to help my team win a second ring, I’m letting down myself,” – Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Antetokounmpo signed two consecutive contract extensions, a supermax deal in 2020 followed by a second one in 2023. His pledge to the Bucks might evaporate should the team fail to provide the infrastructure necessary to compete for titles. Though he is technically under contract until the end of the 2027-28 season, speculation about his future has accelerated in recent months.
The Bucks’ General Manager, Jon Horst, has worked tirelessly since his tenure began in June 2017 to build a championship-caliber roster around Antetokounmpo. Under Horst’s leadership, Milwaukee has achieved the second-best regular-season winning percentage in the league (.647), trailing only the Boston Celtics. The talent around Antetokounmpo has slowly eroded since their 2021 championship run.
And the recent trades and acquisitions have not lived up to the hype. Now, their analysts are doubting whether the assembled roster can help LeBron and Davis carry the load toward pursuit of another championship. In fact, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith has claimed that Antetokounmpo should leave Milwaukee if major changes don’t come right away.
Damian Lillard assured that their long-term partnership should make them feel confident. He likes that Antetokounmpo is all-in on their success as a partnership. Lillard admitted that their communication has improved drastically from last year to now.
“[Antetokounmpo is] invested in us as a pair,” – Damian Lillard.
For Lillard, their developing chemistry has really been the key for them this season. Instead, they’ve created a much more integrated framework than ever before.
“This year, we just know each other. It’s not forced or it’s not rushed where people are saying what we need to do,” – Damian Lillard.
With the Bucks’ next first-round pick not available until 2031 and previous trade discussions yielding no immediate solutions, concerns about the team’s long-term competitiveness persist.
Antetokounmpo’s limited availability has been a factor in Milwaukee’s recent struggles. The star forward was limited to only 37 regular season games due to a series of injuries. This has led to fears over his long-term viability as he ages through his career.
With talks about possible roster changes heating up, this moment is absolutely crucial for the Bucks. The organization must balance Antetokounmpo’s championship aspirations against the challenging dynamics of maintaining a competitive roster in an evolving league.
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