The 2025–26 NBA season has suddenly become make-or-break for the Milwaukee Bucks.
This developed after superstar forward Giannis Antetokounmpo expressed this offseason his unwavering desire to add to his basketball legacy, which he says is “very important” to him.
“I just want more. I want to win another championship. I want to win another medal for the national team. Legacy is very important for me. … You got to play to win. I don’t play to be around and get paid,” Antetokounmpo said over the weekend as he traveled from Greece to Miami to join the Bucks for preseason.
Antetokounmpo’s latest pronouncement echoes something he said earlier this offseason, during Bucks media day, when he said via video conference: “I want to be on a team that allows me and gives me a chance to win a championship. I think it’s a disservice to basketball, just to the game, to not want to compete at a high level, to want your season to end in April.”
Antetokounmpo Open to Other Opportunities
The desire to compete for more championships isn’t surprising. Neither is it new. Antetokounmpo and the greats all want to win at the highest levels. What’s new, though, is that the Greek Freak has reportedly told Bucks GM Josh Horst that he’s truly open now to exploring alternative paths forward, both for himself and the franchise.
While Antetokounmpo has not made a direct request to be traded, this appears to be the first time he has broached the idea of leaving Milwaukee, which has been home to him for the entirety of his 13-year NBA career. In that span, the Greek national team player won MVP twice, led the Bucks to the 2021 NBA title, and earned numerous other awards in what is already a Hall of Fame career.
Even without a direct request for a trade, reports also indicate that Antetokounmpo already has a team in mind in case he does push for a way out of Milwaukee. That team is the New York Knicks, and NBA insiders say the storied franchise has had exploratory talks with Bucks brass about a potential trade involving the 30-year-old do-it-all forward.
Bucks at a Crossroads
These developments only mean one thing: The Bucks need to win now, or at least show Antetokounmpo that they’re trending in that direction. The problem is, Milwaukee might not have enough to do exactly that even with the offseason acquisition of versatile center Myles Turner (though at the expense of injured point guard Damian Lillard).
As things stand, Antetokounmpo will be riding solo in Milwaukee, the undisputed alpha with no clear, reliable No. 2 — the Batman without a Robin. About the only thing going for the Bucks is the Greek Freak’s singular brilliance and the fact that the East is wide open with injuries to Tyrese Haliburton of the Indiana Pacers and Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics.
Even then, the Bucks might be more pretender than contender, which would surely eat away at Antetokounmpo. And if the Bucks can’t change that real quick, they’ll risk alienating their franchise player to the point he’ll want to push for a way out of the city.
So, yes, the 2025–26 NBA season is huge for the Bucks. It’s make-or-break time.
