Giannis Antetokounmpo Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

Rival superstars' attempts to pry Giannis Antetokounmpo from Bucks never stood a chance

By Vinny Somma | Last updated 10/26/23

For months, the NBA world waited on pins and needles to see if Giannis Antetokounmpo would sign a contract extension with the Milwaukee Bucks. Coming off back-to-back early playoff exits, the two-time league MVP had been reluctant to commit to the organization this summer.

According to Ramona Shelburne of ESPN, Antetokounmpo's public hesitancy led to rival superstars reaching out in hopes of prying him from Milwaukee. In the end, the recruitment was for naught, as Antetokounmpo surprisingly agreed on a three-year, $186 million extension with the Bucks on Monday.

Breaking: Giannis Antetokounmpo has agreed on a three-year, $186 million contract extension, sources tell @wojespn. pic.twitter.com/xdzag1ZxvC
— ESPN (@espn) October 23, 2023

While Antetokounmpo's hesitancy this offseason gave Bucks fans reason to pause, chances of other teams luring Antetokounmpo out of Milwaukee became slim to none once the team acquired Damian Lillard.

Giannis Antetokounmpo says he didn’t know what type of contract he signed

"It was the first time in my NBA career I didn't know the number of my contract. I just signed it because I wanted to be here."

(Via @ScottGrodsky ) pic.twitter.com/HhZ61RCAZi
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) October 24, 2023

Ultimately, Antetokounmpo's primary focus throughout the contract saga was to ensure he was putting himself in the best position to win.

"I'm a winner. I want to win," Antetokounmpo said during a Sep. 12 appearance on the "48 Minutes" podcast. "And I have to do whatever it takes for me to win. And if there's a better situation for me to win the Larry O'Brien, I have to take that better situation."

Just 15 days after these comments, Milwaukee proved they were committed to winning, striking a three-team deal for Lillard — in return, proving their devotion to Antetokounmpo as the face of their franchise.

Still just 28 years old, Antetokounmpo is firmly in his prime, coming off a career-best 31.1 PPG campaign in 2022-23. He and Lillard (32.2 PPG) give Milwaukee the lone tandem in the NBA to average over 30 PPG last season.

With Antetokounmpo and Lillard each under contract through at least 2025-26, don't be surprised if NBA superstars continue to reach out to Antetokounmpo about forming the league's next superteam. However this time around, those conversations would come with the caveat of residing in Milwaukee.

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