Giannis Antetokounmpo’s run in Milwaukee may be over, but the affection clearly isn’t.
After 13 years as the face of the Bucks, Antetokounmpo was shown a wave of appreciation from Milwaukee fans in a recently released video, and the reaction hit him hard. The two-time MVP watched messages from supporters thanking him for everything he gave the franchise, and the moment left him visibly moved.
"Crazy. Doesn't matter where I am.
Obviously, I have a new chapter with the Miami Heat, but Milwaukee will always be home. When I see videos like that, it makes me emotional.
Don’t cry because it’s over, laugh and smile because it happened. I’m so grateful and happy for the 13 years I was with the Milwaukee Bucks," Antetokounmpo said in the behind-the-scenes video on his YouTube channel.
That emotional response makes sense given what he meant to the city. Antetokounmpo delivered some of the biggest moments in Bucks history, none bigger than his 50-point performance to finish off the 2021 NBA Finals against the Phoenix Suns. That title was Milwaukee’s first since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, then known as Lew Alcindor, led the team to the 1971 NBA championship.
Even with his move to Miami, Antetokounmpo still sits alongside Kareem and Oscar Robertson in the conversation for the greatest players in franchise history. And while the trade saga over the past year may have left some fans frustrated, it’s clear that for many in Milwaukee, the love never left.
Now the Heat have their star, and Pat Riley has landed another major name after sending a significant haul to get Antetokounmpo. But with Miami in the Eastern Conference, there will be plenty of eyes on every return trip to Milwaukee.
The real question is how the crowd will sound when he comes back. Will the loudest voices turn on him, or will the majority still greet him like the icon he became?
In Other News...
Bucks May Finally Have A Way Out Of The Myles Turner Mess
For the Bucks, the Myles Turner situation has lingered as one of the more awkward roster questions of the summer, with a veteran center on the books and no obvious clean resolution. If a trade market develops, Milwaukee would at least have a chance to turn a potential headache into something more useful, and the kind of return being discussed would be aimed at helping the team beyond the immediate season.
Detroits center picture is part of what makes the idea worth watching, even if it remains entirely speculative for now. Any real movement would depend on the Pistons sorting out their own frontcourt plans and deciding how to handle the next phase of that situation, but if they do, the Bucks could finally have a path to extract value from a messy fit instead of just waiting it out. [Read more 🡒]
Bucks Have A Real Kyle Kuzma Trade Suitor Waiting In The Wings
Kyle Kuzma is still set up to be one of the Bucks more obvious trade chips this season, and the reason is simple enough: his expiring contract gives Milwaukee flexibility, while his role could make him useful enough to keep in the rotation early on. He is expected to open the year as a likely starter, but that does not change the larger reality that he can be moved if the right deal comes along.
One team to keep an eye on is Minnesota, which has a clear need for a forward but is not in position to jump quickly because of salary-cap issues. If the Timberwolves can sort out their books, Kuzma could become a realistic target, and their interest would make sense for a club trying to stabilize its frontcourt while also preserving future options. For the Bucks, it is another reminder that Kuzma may spend the season balancing two tracks at once: helping them now, while remaining very much in play later. [Read more 🡒]