Ahead of the 2023-24 NBA regular season, superstar forward Giannis Antetokounmpo put the Milwaukee Bucks on notice that if he didn’t see the same kind of dedication that he has in the players in the locker room, he would actively be pursuing a future elsewhere in the NBA.
This statement by Antetokounmpo lit a fire under the Bucks brass, who immediately started to explore options to bring in more talent to surround their superstar in Milwaukee.
Ultimately, the Bucks were able to land another superstar to play alongside Antetokounmpo by trading for veteran guard Damian Lillard in a three-way deal with the Phoenix Suns and Portland Trail Blazers.
Thus far, the trade has paid off with the Bucks currently 20 games above .500 while sitting in second place in the Eastern Conference behind the top-seeded Boston Celtics.
Although things are going well right now, Colin Cowherd of FOX Sports foresees Antetokounmpo forcing his way out of Milwaukee via The Herd with Colin Cowherd.
“I think he’s going to ask to leave,” Cowherd said. “I think he’s going to want to go to California play with a LeBron [James] or play with a Steph [Curry], but he’s a smart kid.”
“I think he’s going to ask to leave.”
— @ColinCowherd on why Giannis could be on his way out from Milwaukee pic.twitter.com/eNLB9fPtMf
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) March 22, 2024
Obviously, the Bucks would have to collapse in epic fashion in order for the face of the franchise to ask to be traded, so if the season ends the same way it did last year, even with Lillard in the fold, there’s a chance this could happen.
However, it could also go in the opposite direction, with Milwaukee giving Boston a run for its money and making it to the NBA Finals.
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Damian Lillard Has Been On A Strong Three-Game Stretch
