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Giannis Antetokounmpo is on top of the NBA world. He just won a Defensive Player of the Year award and his second consecutive league MVP. However, there is a question that everyone wants answered. What is Antetokounmpo going to do in free agency next year? Will he stay with the Milwaukee Bucks or sign with another team? Well, Antetokounmpo could have given everyone their answer.
Giannis Antetokounmpo just won his second straight MVP with the Bucks
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Antetokounmpo went to the Milwaukee Bucks with the No. 15 pick in the 2013 NBA Draft. He then gradually improved over his first three seasons. After averaging 6.8 points per game and 4.4 rebounds in his rookie season, Antetokounmpo averaged 12.7 points per game and 6.7 rebounds in 2014-15, and 16.9 points per game and 7.7 rebounds in 2015-16.
However, Antetokounmpo became a star during the 2016-17 season. He had his first All-Star pick that year and averaged 22.9 points per game, 8.8 rebounds and 5.4 assists. Then, after improving even further the next year averaging 26.9 points per game, 10 rebounds and 4.8 assists, he became one of the NBA’s best players in 2018-19.
Antetokounmpo finally won his first MVP award that season with an average of 27.7 points per game, 12.5 rebounds and 5.9 assists. He also helped lead the Bucks to a 60-22 record, which was number one in the Eastern Conference.
This season in 2019-20, Antetokounmpo continued to dominate, and the Bucks were, once again, one of the best teams in the league. Antetokounmpo averaged 29.5 points per game, 13.6 rebounds and 5.6 assists, and the Bucks finished 56-17, which was No. 1 in the Eastern Conference again. On Friday, September 18, 2020, the NBA announced that Antetokounmpo won his second consecutive MVP award.
The Milwaukee Bucks have underperformed in the playoffs
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During the 2018-19 season, the Bucks made it to the Eastern Conference Finals, and Antetokounmpo played well during his playoff career. He averaged 25.5 points per game, 12.3 rebounds and 4.9 assists in the playoffs.
However, despite taking a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference Finals over the Toronto Raptors, the Bucks lost in six games. Antetokounmpo also struggled, scoring 22.7 points per game and shooting 44.8% from the field, compared to his season average of 57.8%.
Many people expected the Bucks to make it to the Eastern Conference Finals again, at the very least, during the 2019-20 playoffs. Others even predicted that they would win the NBA championship. However, the Miami Heat defeated Antetokounmpo and the Bucks in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, defeating them in five games.
He is a free agent after the 2020-2021 season
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For the past several years, there has been much speculation about what Antetokounmpo will do in free agency when he becomes an unrestricted free agent after the 2020-21 season.
While it seems Antetokounmpo really wants to win with the Bucks, many have wondered if his losses in the playoffs could affect his chances of keeping him.
In May 2019, ESPN’s Malika Andrews reported that reaching the NBA Finals could tip the balance in favor of the Bucks.
“If they can make it to the NBA Finals next season, the Bucks can improve their chances of signing Antetokounmpo to supermax in the summer of 2020,” Andrews wrote.
As mentioned above, they did not make it to the final. So it’s hard to see him signing the supermax this offseason.
Also, Stephen A. Smith said this in March 2020, according to Bleacher Report’s Howard Beck.
“They have told me that if he does not reach the final, he will leave. I don’t know if that’s true or not, ”Smith said.
According to Yahoo Sports, since losing in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, Antetokounmpo has unfollowed his Bucks teammates on Instagram and Twitter, adding fuel to the fire. However, l tweeted This on Sept. 15: “Thank you Milwaukee for all the love and support you showed my teammates and me this season. You guys are the best fans in the league. I can’t wait for the next season! “
While his future is certainly unclear, Antetokounmpo might have provided the answer everyone was waiting for.
Giannis Antetokounmpo potentially wants to stay in Milwaukee for 15 years
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According to Eric Nehm From The Athletic, Antetokounmpo had this to say on September 18, 2020 about his future, the same day he was named MVP for the second consecutive season.
“As long as everyone is on the same page and as long as everyone is fighting for the same thing, fighting for the same thing every day, which is to be a champion, I don’t see why not be in Milwaukee for the next 15 years,” Antetokounmpo said, according to Nehm.
It seems that Antetokounmpo wants to stay with the Bucks. However, it is better that they show you that they want to win a championship. If they don’t, they may see their franchise superstar playing for a different team in a couple of seasons.
Statistics courtesy of Basketball Reference
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