The Milwaukee Bucks had a major “oh no” moment this offseason when they surprisingly cut Damian Lillard. The move didn’t sit well with their biggest star, Giannis Antetokounmpo. There were immediate concerns that Giannis wouldn’t respond well to the decision — and many believed a potential trade could be on the horizon.
“Antetokounmpo is reportedly open to exploring other teams outside the Bucks for the first time in his career, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania,” Chris Cwik wrote.
This was unfamiliar territory for Milwaukee. Antetokounmpo has been the face of the franchise since his breakout years, and his loyalty has long been a point of pride. But Lillard was his partner in crime — and when healthy, the duo was dominant. Letting Lillard go only intensified the trade speculation surrounding Giannis.
“Since the Bucks dropped out of the NBA Playoffs early once again in 2025, everybody wondered what’s next for Giannis Antetokounmpo. When the Bucks waived Damian Lillard after just his second season in Milwaukee, reports surfaced claiming that Antetokounmpo was frustrated with the decision. Those rumors added more fuel to the fire,” SI’s Justin Grasso wrote.
Throughout the offseason, the Bucks have been searching for ways to convince Giannis to stay. On Sunday, they made a significant move in that effort by signing his brother, Thanasis Antetokounmpo.
“Thanasis Antetokounmpo is signing a guaranteed one-year, $2.9 million deal to return to the Milwaukee Bucks, sources tell ESPN. Antetokounmpo played for Bucks from 2019–24. This also means after a summer of exploring options, Giannis is staying in Milwaukee to start the season,” ESPN’s Shams Charania reported.
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This appears to be the Bucks’ way of extending an olive branch — a gesture that shows remorse for letting Lillard go. For now, it seems to have worked. Giannis will remain in Milwaukee to start the season.
However, this doesn’t guarantee he’ll stay the entire year. It could very well be a temporary fix to a deeper issue — and unless the Bucks prove they’re serious about winning, the Giannis era in Milwaukee may still be nearing its end.
