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Bucks owner Jimmy Haslam puts a clock on Giannis Antetokounmpo decision: 'We understand the gravity'
TL;DR
Bucks co-owner Jimmy Haslam announced plans to discuss Giannis Antetokounmpo's future with the team over the next few weeks. The situation remains uncertain as both sides evaluate their options.
Key points
- Bucks co-owner Jimmy Haslam addresses Giannis's future
- Discussions planned over the next few weeks
- Giannis led the Bucks to their second championship
- Uncertainty remains about Giannis's decision
Mentioned in this story
Jimmy Haslam
Milwaukee BucksGiannis Antetokounmpo
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The Milwaukee Bucks introduced new coach Taylor Jenkins and of course the biggest topic of the afternoon is the future of Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Bucks and Antetokounmpo are still playing the world's longest game of will they/won't they, and as of Wednesday, there still wasn't a ton of clarity on the situation.
Team co-owner Jimmy Haslam did say, however, that they'll talk with Antetokounmpo over the next few weeks to figure out his future and if that still involves the Bucks.
"Giannis has brought Milwaukee its second championship and first in 50 years. He's a phenomenal player, he's a phenomenal person, he's arguably one of the best basketball players in the world," Haslam said. "We will do what's best for Giannis and what's best for the organization. We don't know whether Giannis will stay with us or not, but we'll work through that with Giannis in the coming weeks."
OK, at least we now have some sort of time frame for a decision made on Antetokounmpo's future, who has two years and $121.2 million remaining on his contract, including a $62.7 million player option next summer. Haslam later narrowed the window even more, targeting "the next six or seven weeks" ahead of the June 23 draft.
If we're trying to read the tea leaves on whether the Bucks expect Antetokounmpo to be back next season, general manager Jon Horst's answer gave some interesting insight regarding his star player's involvement in the selection of Jenkins as the next head coach.
"No (Antetokounmpo did not meet with Jenkins)," Horst said. "Every situation is different, and for us it's really important. This is about building the culture, the identity of the team... It was clear to us in who we needed to hire to have as a partner with our organization going forward to build sustainable success for years to come in Milwaukee. This situation, it wasn't about Giannis or not Giannis. None of the players (were part of the process). In years past, we've talked to a lot of the players, sought counsel, and sometimes that was right, sometimes that was wrong. This was about hiring Taylor Jenkins."
None of that suggests that Antetokounmpo's lack of involvement in the selection process means his days with the Bucks are over. That said, we don't typically see a team picking a coach without at least consulting their star player(s).
Q&A
What did Jimmy Haslam say about Giannis Antetokounmpo's future?
Jimmy Haslam stated that they will talk with Giannis over the next few weeks to determine his future with the Bucks.
How important is Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Milwaukee Bucks?
Giannis has been crucial for the Bucks, leading them to their second championship and first in 50 years.
What are the implications of Giannis potentially leaving the Bucks?
If Giannis leaves, it could significantly impact the Bucks' competitiveness and their future championship aspirations.
When will the Bucks and Giannis Antetokounmpo have discussions about his future?
The discussions about Giannis's future with the Bucks are expected to take place over the next few weeks.
