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Bucks' Decision to Sit Giannis Reportedly Cost Him a Nike Bonus
TL;DR
Giannis Antetokounmpo reportedly lost a significant Nike bonus after the Milwaukee Bucks decided to sit him out for the rest of the 2025-26 NBA season. This decision was made to prioritize his health and improve the team's draft position, despite Giannis expressing his desire to play.
Giannis Antetokounmpo. Via Getty/John Fisher
Giannis Antetokounmpo may have just missed out on a big check from his endorser, Nike, after the Milwaukee Bucksâ reported decision to sit him out for the remainder of the 2025-26 NBA season.
According to ESPNâs NBA senior insider Shams Charania, the Bucksâ decision cost Antetokounmpo a âsignificant bonusâ within his endorsement contract with the Swoosh for missing a 41-game threshold this season.
Since mid-March, Antetokounmpo has been sidelined with a bone bruise in his knee, which reportedly prompted the Milwaukee Bucks to shut him down for the remainder of the season to both prioritize his health and to help the teamâs position in the upcoming NBA Draft. Charania also reported that Antetokounmpo told the Bucks he was feeling healthy and wanted to play, but the teamâs medical staff overruled his request. Antetokounmpo has played 36 games this season and was missing five games to trigger the purported Nike bonus.
Nike also recently unveiled Antetokounmpoâs next signature basketball shoe, the Giannis Freak 8, which hits retail in August.
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Q&A
Why did the Milwaukee Bucks decide to sit Giannis Antetokounmpo for the season?
The Bucks decided to sit Giannis to prioritize his health due to a knee injury and to enhance their position in the upcoming NBA Draft.
What was the financial impact of Giannis missing games on his Nike endorsement?
Giannis missed a significant bonus from Nike for not reaching a 41-game threshold in his endorsement contract due to sitting out the remainder of the season.
How many games did Giannis Antetokounmpo play before being sidelined?
Giannis played 36 games this season before the Bucks decided to shut him down for the remainder of the season.
